Executive Summary

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

This site environmental report describes the environmental program conducted during 2003 by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Repository Development. The report describes the environmental laws and regulations that were applicable to the Yucca Mountain Project in 2003, the actions taken to comply with those laws and regulations, and the Project’s environmental program. The report also summarizes the data collected to monitor potential impacts of the Project on the environment.

Mission and 2003 Accomplishments

In 1982, Congress enacted the Nuclear Waste Policy Act. The act specified that spent nuclear fuel from commercial nuclear reactors and high-level radioactive waste from national defense activities will be disposed of underground in deep geologic repositories. In 1987, the act was amended by designating Yucca Mountain, Nevada, as the single candidate site for a repository. The amended act directed the U.S. Department of Energy to characterize Yucca Mountain as a potential geologic repository, and to make a recommendation to the Secretary of Energy as to its suitability to safely isolate these wastes. On February 14, 2002, the Secretary of Energy submitted a comprehensive statement to the President recommending Yucca Mountain as the site for a geologic repository. This recommendation was made after more than two decades of scientific investigations by the U.S. Department of Energy to determine the suitability of Yucca Mountain to isolate spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste. The President approved the Secretary’s recommendation on February 15, 2002, and forwarded it to Congress. On July 23, 2002, the President signed into law a Congressional Joint Resolution designating Yucca Mountain as the site for the nation’s first geologic repository per Section 115(c) of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act, as amended.

During 2003, the Department continued to prepare a license application that will be submitted to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission to construct and ultimately operate a geologic repository at Yucca Mountain, Nevada. The license application is expected to be submitted in December 2004. Upon submittal, the Commission will have three years to review the application, conduct its licensing proceedings, and reach a decision on a construction authorization. Should the Commission grant the construction authorization, the Department will update the license application and request a license to receive and possess high-level radioactive waste as initial construction of the repository nears completion. If the Commission grants the license to receive and possess, the Department will begin placing waste into the repository. In the final phase of licensing, when the repository has stopped receiving waste for disposal, the Department will apply for a license amendment to decommission and permanently close the repository.

Throughout 2003, the Office of Repository Development continued to conduct field and laboratory tests and studies to further refine the understanding of how a repository at Yucca Mountain would perform far into the future. Some of these efforts may continue indefinitely or until the repository is permanently closed. Repository design and operating decisions could be modified based on the results of these tests and studies, as well as other technological and policy developments. This ongoing learning process is designed to challenge current models and assumptions and lead to continuous improvement.

Environmental Compliance–During 2003, the Yucca Mountain Project had no violations of environmental permits or noncompliance actions; no reportable occurrences that required notification of 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 2003 to maintain environmental permits and comply with environmental regulations:

The Project began preparing an 'Environmental Report' that will supplement the Final Environmental Impact Statement on the repository. The report will be submitted to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission in 2005 or 2006.

Several actions were taken to further implement the requirements in Executive Order 13148 (65 FR 24595) and DOE Order 450.1 for an Environmental Management System.

The Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan was revised in late 2002 and early 2003 and became effective in March 2003. The Plan was revised to meet the requirements of the stormwater general permit that was received in 2002.

The U.S. Department of Energy and the State of Nevada entered into joint agreements in 2002 and 2003 to allow the U.S. Department of Energy to pump specified amounts of water per year for potable and non-potable purposes, including dust control, maintenance, and scientific testing.

Reports on the following subjects were prepared and submitted to federal and state regulatory agencies and other organizations in compliance with regulatory requirements:
– Hazardous materials and chemicals
– Wastes generated and recycled, including efforts to minimize waste generation
– Purchase and use of recycled materials
– Use of sand and gravel
– Desert tortoises/biological surveys
– Air emissions
– Drinking water
– Reclamation
– Underground injections
– Archaeological surveys and monitoring.

Environmental Programs–The following actions were taken as part of the environmental program conducted in 2003 to implement permit requirements, monitor impacts, and protect the environment:

Ten requests for land access were reviewed by the Office of Repository Development in 2003. Approval was granted for seven of these requests.

No land was cleared of vegetation or soil in 2003; the total amount of land disturbed by the Project since 1991 remained at 319 acres. This is 95 acres less than the total of 414 acres stipulated in the ‘Biological Opinion’ for the Yucca Mountain Project issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

No desert tortoises were found during pre-activity surveys, and no tortoises were harmed on roads or at other sites during 2003.

Final reclamation was completed at 16 sites totaling 1.2 acres and 94 previously reclaimed sites were monitored. By the end of 2003, final reclamation had been completed on 257 former Yucca Mountain Project disturbances totaling 88.4 acres.

Seven archaeological pre-activity field surveys were conducted in 2003. One new archaeological site and nine isolated artifacts were identified during those surveys. Conditions at five previously documented historical properties at Yucca Mountain were evaluated; no major disturbances were noted at these sites.

The Project continued consultations and interactions with involved Native American tribes and organizations.

Air quality was monitored at two sites at Yucca Mountain and meteorological measurements were taken at 12 sites at Yucca Mountain. Concentrations of airborne particulate matter continued to be far below allowable maximum concentrations. 2003 was the third-wettest year since 1996, following the driest year (2002) since record keeping at Yucca Mountain began.

Groundwater levels were measured at 40 sites to monitor fluctuations in groundwater levels and evaluate potential regional effects from groundwater withdrawals at Yucca Mountain. Between 1992 and 2003, water levels in Jackass Flats, where the Project withdraws the majority of its water, either had slight upward trends or had not changed. The withdrawal of groundwater for Project activities has had no measurable effect on regional groundwater levels or spring flows.

From 2002 to 2003, there was an increase of 1,763 pounds of hazardous waste generated by the Project. The primary reason for this increase was the closure of a research facility at Yucca Mountain that contained expired laboratory chemicals that required proper disposal. The total quantity of hazardous waste collected during 2003 was 1,964 pounds. Universal waste (mostly fluorescent lamps and nickel-cadmium batteries) totaling 2,609 pounds was also collected. 1,291 pounds of hazardous waste and 1,727 pounds of universal waste were shipped to a permitted Treatment, Storage, and Disposal facility in 2003.

As part of the Project’s pollution-prevention program, two assessments were conducted in 2003 to evaluate methods of reducing waste streams from aerosol cans and from propane cylinders. The use of puncturing units was determined to be a reasonable option.

The purchase of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency-designated recycled-content items increased to about 97 percent in 2003, up from about 90 percent in 2002. Procurement of energy-saving upgrades were incorporated into lease renegotiations for office facilities in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Seven assessments were conducted to evaluate compliance with environmental, safety, and health requirements.

178 environmental surveillances were conducted in 2003 to monitor compliance and track environmental performance. Positive observations, noteworthy practices, or no environmental concerns were identified in 95 percent of the surveillances (169). This compares to 96 percent in 2002 and 94 percent in 2001. Of the nine surveillances for which concerns were noted, four corrective actions were implemented for spills and waste-management issues and five were implemented for noncompliance with procedures and plans. There were no permit violations or reportable spills in 2003. Trends in environmental performance in 2003 were negative; there was a one-percent increase in the number of findings that required corrective action in 2003 compared to 2002.

Project personnel working at Yucca Mountain are instructed on the environmental and safety requirements that must be followed for field activities. Additional job-specific training is offered commensurate with job responsibilities. New employees must take General Employee Training. This six-hour course covers, among other things, environmental protection requirements, hazard communication, pollution prevention, and safety and health requirements. A computer-based annual refresher of these topics also is required of employees. New employees who work unescorted at Yucca Mountain attend site-access training. Managers and supervisors attended a course on environmental regulatory compliance.

When required, Project personnel are trained in the management and transportation of hazardous waste, and in requirements for detecting and responding to releases of hazardous materials.

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