Return to the Main Document

Executive Summary

This Site Environmental Report describes the environmental program conducted for the U.S. Department of Energy Yucca Mountain Site Characterization Office during 2001. It describes the environmental laws and regulations that are applicable to the Yucca Mountain Site Characterization Project, the actions taken to comply with those laws and regulations, the Project’s environmental program, and a summary of data collected to monitor potential impacts of the Project on the environment.

Mission and 2001 Accomplishments–The major focus of Project activities in 2001 was the documentation of more than two decades of scientific investigations to determine the suitability of the Yucca Mountain site for a geologic repository for high-level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel. Highlights of work conducted in 2001 to summarize site characterization and support a site recommendation decision include the following:

• As required by the Nuclear Waste Policy Act, the U.S. Department of Energy held 66 public meetings in Nevada and California to inform residents and obtain comments on site evaluation documents. Comments from these meetings and comments received by mail, e-mail, and other sources were summarized and provided to the Secretary of Energy for consideration in a decision to formally recommend the site.
• In November, the U.S. Department of Energy finalized its repository-siting guidelines to be consistent with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s final radiation protection standards for Yucca Mountain and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s final licensing requirements for a repository at Yucca Mountain.
• The U.S. Department of Energy issued several major documents. The Yucca Mountain Science and Engineering Report (DOE 2001a) summarized scientific and technical information about Yucca Mountain to provide the technical basis for a site recommendation. The Yucca Mountain Preliminary Site Suitability Evaluation (DOE 2001b) provided a preliminary assessment of the site’s performance against proposed radiation and licensing regulations, and the FY 01 Supplemental Science and Performance Analysis (BSC 2001a, 2001b) presented recently completed scientific analyses.
• In May, the U.S. Department of Energy issued a Supplement to the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for a Geological Repository for the Disposal of Spent Nuclear Fuel and High-Level Radioactive Waste at Yucca Mountain, Nye County, Nevada (DOE 2001c). The Supplement updated the description of the repository and evaluated the potential environmental impacts from this newer design. The U.S. Department of Energy held three hearings on the Supplement and received more than 1,900 comments. In addition, work continued on a Final Environmental Impact Statement and associated comment response document.
• Scientific and engineering investigations were conducted to help refine the understanding of how a repository would perform far into the future. These investigations continued to focus on flow and transport in the unsaturated and saturated zones at Yucca Mountain, testing of the engineered barrier system, and studies of natural analogues to Yucca Mountain.

Based on this and other information, the Secretary of Energy on February 14, 2002, submitted a comprehensive statement to the President recommending the site for development of a repository. As required by the Nuclear Waste Policy Act, this recommendation included a Final Environmental Impact Statement. On February 15, 2002, the President approved the Secretary’s recommendation and forwarded it to Congress.

Environmental Compliance–During 2001, the Yucca Mountain Site Characterization Project had no violations of environmental permits or noncompliance actions; no reportable occurrences that required notification to a regulatory agency; and no notices of violations, deficiencies, announcements of intent to sue for noncompliance with environmental regulations, or other types of enforcement actions. The following actions were taken during 2001 to maintain environmental permits and comply with environmental regulations:

• A strategic plan was prepared and a gap analysis was conducted for development of an Environmental Management System, as required by Executive Order 13148.
• The U.S. Bureau of Land Management renewed two large Right-of-Way Reservations and extended the period of use for eight small reservations scattered throughout Nevada and California. The U.S. Department of Energy also began reclamation on ten small reservations that were no longer needed for site characterization.
• A borrow pit near Fortymile Wash was reclaimed, and the permit for its use was allowed to expire.
• The U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service completed consultation on the effects of construction, operation, monitoring, and closure of a repository at Yucca Mountain. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service concluded that those actions are not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of the desert tortoise.
• A new five-year air quality operating permit was issued by the State of Nevada.
• The annual permit to operate the water supply system at Yucca Mountain was renewed.
• The Project’s underground injection permit expired in January. A permit-renewal application had been submitted in 2000, and the State deemed the application to be complete, which allowed the Project to continue working under the existing permit until a new permit is issued.
• A request to extend the period for proof of beneficial use of water from Well VH-1 was filed in April (and approved by the Nevada State Engineer in January 2002). Also in April, the Nevada State Engineer granted the U.S. Department of Energy a two-year waiver authorizing up to about 370 acre-ft of discharge from borehole NC-EWDP-19D. About 5 acre-ft were pumped and discharged to Fortymile Wash from this well in 2001.
• Legal appeals continued on the Nevada State Engineer’s ruling against the U.S. Department of Energy’s application for a permanent withdrawal of 430 acre-ft per year of groundwater for use at the Yucca Mountain site.

Environmental Programs–The following actions were taken as part of the environmental program conducted in 2001 to implement permit requirements, monitor impacts, and protect the environment:

• Nine requests for land access for new or modified activities were reviewed. Complete or partial approval was granted for eight activities, including five scientific studies, one construction project, and two plans for reclaiming disturbed sites. No removal of vegetation, scraping of topsoil, or other permanent habitat disturbances occurred during 2001; thus, the amount of land disturbed by site characterization activities since 1991 remained at 128.8 hectares (318.3 acres).
• No desert tortoises were found during pre-construction surveys and no tortoises were harmed on roads or at Project sites during 2001.
• Final reclamation was completed at 13 sites totaling 4.87 hectares (12.02 acres), and 127 previously reclaimed sites were monitored.
• Archaeological surveys were conducted at six areas proposed for site characterization activities and four sites to be reclaimed. One new archaeological site and five isolated artifacts were identified during those surveys.
• Tribal Update Meetings were held to discuss the environmental impact statement, site recommendation process, and other Project activities.
• Air quality was monitored at 3 sites, and meteorological measurements were taken at 12 sites at Yucca Mountain. Concentrations of airborne particulate matter continued to be far below allowable maximum concentrations. Precipitation during 2001 was about 10 percent below the five-year average.
• Groundwater levels were measured at 40 locations to monitor fluctuations in regional groundwater levels and evaluate potential effects of groundwater withdrawals at Yucca Mountain. Water elevations at these sites were similar to their pre-1994 baseline levels, indicating that Project water withdrawals have had no detectable effect on groundwater levels.
• From 2000 to 2001, there was a reduction of 1,717 pounds in the amount of hazardous waste generated by the Project. Two shipments of hazardous waste totaling 685 pounds, and one shipment of universal waste (mostly fluorescent lamps and nickel-cadmium batteries) totaling 756 pounds, were transported to permitted disposal facilities. As part of the Project’s pollution prevention program, numerous materials were recycled or reused.
• To increase vehicle fleet fuel-efficiency, the Project replaced 11 vehicles with small sedans that use compressed natural gas.
• Eight assessments were conducted to evaluate compliance with environmental, safety, and health requirements. In addition, 533 environmental surveillances were conducted to monitor compliance and track environmental performance. Eighteen corrective actions were required for spills and waste management, and 15 corrective actions were required for non-compliance with procedures and plans. Trends in environmental performance indicate continued improvement during 2001.
• Three hundred and seventy-six Project personnel attended initial environmental training required before working unescorted at Yucca Mountain, and 557 took the annual refresher training. When required, Project personnel also were trained in hazardous waste management and transportation and the requirements for detecting and responding to releases of hazardous materials. Managers were required to take a course in environmental compliance awareness.

Previous Section | Next Section