DOE's repository license submittal date not expected before 2006

Washington (Platts)--4May2005

It could be early 2006 before DOE sends a repository license application to
NRC, according to projections by attorneys for the DOE nuclear waste program.
During a session today before a special NRC licensing board, attorney Donald
Irwin didn't dispute the board's projection today that DOE would certify in
late July or August that all repository-relevant documents were publicly
available through a Web-based databank. DOE will submit an application to NRC
at least six months later, Irwin said. But he added that some of the factors
that would influence the submittal date, such as when a new Environmental
Protection Agency standard would be available for the nuclear waste disposal
facility planned for Yucca Mountain, Nev., were out of DOE's control. DOE
announced late last year it could not meet its self-imposed December 2004
deadline for sending an application to NRC, but it has not yet officially
announced a new target date.

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