Michele Kearney's Nuclear Wire

Major Energy and Environmental News and Commentary affecting the Nuclear Industry.

Thursday, October 7, 2010

Yucca project review halted NRC chief tables viability study of nuclear waste site By STEVE TETREAULT

NRC's Jaczko Orders End to Review of Yucca Mountain Application
NRC Chairman Gregory Jaczko has issued an order for agency scientists to cease reviewing DOE's application for the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported today. NRC said the order followed a previously established commission policy "that directs a transition to begin an orderly closure of high level waste activities" at Yucca.

NRC spokesman David McIntyre said commissioners planned no comments on the instructions. The Nuclear Energy Institute contended that the NRC was obligated to review DOE's petition to withdraw its application for Yucca before commissioners voted on the petition. The group noted the "general principle, that as long as an application is pending, which it is, the agency is under an obligation."

Nevada politicians applauded Jaczko's order, with Meredith MacKenzie, spokeswoman for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid quoted as saying: "Why would anybody want the federal government to continue wasting time and valuable resources working on a license application for a project that has no money, no staff, and no chance of ever being built?"
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