Management of Commercially Generated Radioactive Waste - U.S. ...

2.12
The second major decision process is that involving the selection of sites for the
disposal of nuclear waste assuming the mined geologic option. The major decision
points in such a site-selection process are:
1. Adoption of a National Site Selection and Characterization Plan including the
national screening for potential regions and selection of areas (approximately
2,590 square kilometers, or 1,000 square miles) for further study.
2. Identification of locations (26 to 78 square kilometers, or 10 to 30 square
miles) for in-depth study.
3. Selection of a preferred site(s) for: banking,(a) including the possible devel-
opment of an early shaft.
4. Acquiring an interest in land sufficient to protect potential sites from other
uses.
5. Selection of a candidate site to propose to NRC for licensing as the first
repository.
At each of these decision points, the DOE will consider the appropriate NEPA documentation.
While the appropriate NEPA documentation is being prepared for the various decision
points, program activities, including site characterization activities, that have been
analyzed in previous NEPA documents may continue. In addition, further site characteriza-
tion activities may continue if it is clear, based on the DOE's review, that they do not
1) have significant adverse environmental impact or 2) limit the choice of reasonable alter-
natives (40 CFR 1506.1). These activities could include environmental studies, routine geo-
physical studies, shallow drilling, and borehole drilling.
2.3.1 The DOE's National Environmental Policy Act Implementation Plan(b)
2.3.1.1 Program Strategy
The environmental effects of implementing a program strategy are addressed in this
final EIS on Management of Commercially Generated Radioactive Waste. Based upon the analy-
ses of nine disposal concepts, mined geologic disposal is identified as the preferred tech-
nical alternative and the proposed action is the selection of a program strategy emphasizing
geologic disposal in a mined repository.
2.3.1.2 Site Selection Process
National Site Characterization and Selection Plan
The DOE proposes to adopt formally the current National Waste Terminal Storage Site
Characterization and Selection Plan as the comprehensive National Site Characterization and
(a) Protecting a potential repository site(s) from conflicting uses until such time as a
final site(s) is selected.
(b) Section 5.2 and Appendix B.7 discuss the technical considerations of repository site
selection.