United States Radioactive Waste Management Program

1. United States Radioactive Waste Management Program Presented to: 4th Edition of the Entretiens européens Conference: “The French 2006 Law – a contribution to a European Policy?" Presented by: Paul M. Golan Deputy Director, Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management U.S. Department of Energy October 11, 2006 Paris, France

2. Agenda • Yucca Mountain Legislation • Perspective of French & European Legislation • International Disposal • Yucca Mountain Project Status

3. Yucca Mountain Legislation • Introduced by Administration in April 2006 • Amends U.S. Nuclear Waste Policy Act • Hearings have been held in both U.S. House and Senate • Other legislation concerning HLW has been introduced • Three major drivers behind legislation: • Required by U.S. law • Improves clarity, stability, and predictability of licensing process • Recognizes changes since Nuclear Waste Policy Act first passed (1982) and subsequently amended (1987)

4. Yucca Mountain Legislation • Major Provisions • Permanent Land Withdrawal • Funding reform • Removal of administrative disposal capacity limitation at Yucca Mountain • Clarifies law with respect to licensing process including non-nuclear infrastructure development, environmental review, rail construction, and licensing time line • Waste Confidence

5. Perspective on French/European Legislation • Many similarities in U.S. law/proposed legislation • 2006 Programme Act addresses relevant issues: • Deep geologic formation • Reduction in the quantity and toxicity of wastes • Prohibits disposal of foreign waste • Wastes disposal must be reversible • Addresses funding • Addresses parties responsible • Regulatory regime • Public participation

6. International Disposal Options • U.S. current inventory of commercial and defense waste over 60,000 MT • U.S. will dispose of classified waste forms • U.S. has established its HLW policy under the Nuclear Waste Policy Act, requiring the development of a US disposal capability • For countries without feasible national disposal options, multinational solutions are possible alternative • The search for multinational solutions should not jeopardize ongoing national programs

7. Yucca Mountain Path Forward • Submit License Application to U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) on or before June 30, 2008 • Begin construction of rail line to Yucca Mountain - October 2009 • NRC to grant construction authorization - September 2011 • Complete construction of rail line to Yucca Mountain - June 2014 • Complete construction for initial operations completed - March 2016 • Begin receipt of radioactive waste - March 2017

8. Yucca Mountain Status • Significant changes over last 16 months • Canistered/Transportation Aging and Disposal (TAD) • Sandia National Laboratory Lead Project Laboratory • Global Nuclear Energy Partnership/Recycle • Yucca Mountain Legislation • License Application and start up schedule • Quality • Transportation • Radiation Protection Standard • Interim Storage

9. Conclusions • This issue needs to be solved, not deferred to future generations • Critical to U.S. energy security • Important globally in addressing climate change