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The Nuclear Waste Policy Act as amended (NWPA), designated the Yucca Mountain site in Nevada as the only site to be considered for a geologic repository for disposal of spent fuel and high-level nuclear waste. The NWPA also provided for the Affected Units of Local Government (AULG) within the vicinity of Yucca Mountain to oversee and participate in the Yucca Mountain Project. By affording AULG participation rights, Congress sought to increase public confidence in the scientific integrity of the repository program, provide citizens the means to interact with the federal government, and demonstrate a commitment to external oversight.

Esmeralda County is one of ten counties designated as an affected unit of local government (AULG).

Esmeralda County has been overseeing the site characterization of Yucca Mountain since 1988 even though Esmeralda County was not granted "affected" status by the U.S. Department of Energy until 1991 after successful joint petition with Inyo County, California, to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Esmeralda County's proximity to the proposed repository in neighboring Nye County and its location on a potential highway route and on three of the proposed rail routes make it vitally interested in the environmental, health and safety impacts of the project and in the socioeconomic effects arising from siting, construction and operation of the proposed repository. More related information>>

The U. S. Department of Energy (DOE) has issued for public comment two Draft National Environmental Policy Act documents related to the Yucca Mountain Project. The 90-day comment period begins October 12, 2007 and ends January 10, 2008.

Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for a Geologic Repository for the Disposal of Spent Nuclear Fuel and High-Level Radioactive Waste at Yucca Mountain, Nye County, Nevada – Nevada Rail Transportation Corridor (Draft Nevada Rail Corridor SEIS) and Draft Environmental Impact Statement for a Rail Alignment for the Construction and Operation of a Railroad in Nevada to a Geologic Repository at Yucca Mountain, Nye County, Nevada

(Draft Rail Alignment EIS)

Requests for additional information on the Draft Repository SEIS and the Draft Nevada Rail Corridor SEIS and Draft Rail Alignment EIS may be submitted to the EIS Office, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management, 1551 Hillshire Drive, Las Vegas, NV 89134 or by calling 1-800-967-3477 or faxing a request to 1-800-967-0739.  Written comments may be submitted to the EIS Office at the above address, or by facsimile to 1-800-967-0739, or via the Internet at: http://www.ocrwm.doe.gov.

The following are copies of the comments from the State of Nevada and the offices of the Esmeralda County Repository Oversight Program, Eureka, Mineral, Churchill and Lander counties.

State of Nevada - State of Nevada comments on DOE Draft Yucca Mountain Repository Supplemental EIS (pdf-1.05M)

State of Nevada - State of Nevada Comments on DOE's Draft Nevada Rail Corridor Supplemental EIS and Draft Rail Alignment EIS (pdf-274k)

January 2008 - Esmeralda County Comments on the Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for a Geologic Repository for the Disposal of Spent Nuclear Fuel and High-Level Radioactive Waste at Yucca Mountain, Nye County, Nevada (SEIS) DOE/EIS-0250F-S2D and Comments on Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Rail Alignment for the Construction and the Operation of a Railroad in Nevada to a Geologic Repository at Yucca Mountain, Nye County, Nevada, DOE/EIS-0369D (the DIES).

Eureka County comments

Mineral County comments

Churchill County comments

Lander County comments

Information from DOE Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management

The Department of Energy is currently preparing a license application for submittal to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The license application will be accompanied by DOE’s Final 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, in support of receiving construction authorization and, ultimately, a license to receive and possess waste.

State of Nevada information - Why Does the State Oppose Yucca Mountain?

Nevada Commission on Nuclear Projects - February 28, 2007

Ed Mueller, Director Esmeralda County Repository Oversight Program
PO Box 490
274 E. Crook Avenue
Goldfield, NV 89103
775-485-3419 Office
775-485-3429 Fax

Supporting Esmeralda County, the public & County Commissioners on Yucca Mountain Project issues and activities.

Ed Mueller and Pat Aumaugher are available at the ROP office to answer questions. Please drop by if you have questions or need more information. The ROP office is also an official reading room and maintains a library of pertinent documents related to the proposed Yucca Mountain Repository, as well as brochures and videos for public information.

Pat Aumaugher
Office Manager

Ed Mueller
Director Esmeralda County Repository Oversight Program

Goldfield Science Center