STAKEHOLDERS RECOMMEND RELEASE OF YUCCA SER

A large group of stakeholder comments called for the release of the Yucca Mountain Safety Evaluation Reports as the first step the Nuclear Regulatory Commission should take to re-start the license review for the nuclear waste repository. The comments come in response to an Order issued by the NRC asking for input into how to best re-start the license review after a court-issued mandamus compelled the Commission to complete the review. Many of the comments cited the lack of funds as reason to release the SERs first. The NRC Staff said, “Staff recommends that limited agency resources should first be devoted to completion of the remaining SER volumes and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) document (EIS supplement) – discrete tasks that likely can be accomplished with available funds and a focused effort.” Others, like the group consisting of Nye County, Nev. and South Carolina, wanted the SERs released to entrust confidence in the review. “Issuance of the SERs with the safety conclusions intact is a key element in restoring public confidence in the integrity of the Yucca Mountain licensing process,” their recommendation stated. The Order period ended earlier this week, and the NRC has stated that it is analyzing the recommendations.