Year
2003
Abstract
Congress recently approved Yucca Mountain in Nevada as the site for the nation’s high level nuclear waste repository. The Project now moves into the licensing, construction and operating phases. The question posed by this paper is what organization construct is best suited to carry out those functions as well as the affiliated transportation and waste acceptance activities? Currently the Department of Energy and its contractors are responsible for the implementation of the Project. Other alternatives include a government corporation, private industry, a different U.S. government agency, or a combination of the above. This paper will present pros and cons of each management model and discuss the implications of each alternative. It will also discuss experience from other similar endeavors such as the Synthetic Fuels Corporation, Tennessee Valley Authority, Uranium Enrichment Corporation, private nuclear fuel storage projects, NASA, Waste Isolation Pilot Plant and the like. The U.S Administration will need to consider this important question to assure the success of the program, because it is so important to the energy and national security of the nation. And its success or failure will set a precedent for repository programs around the world.