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U.S. EPA TO HOLD PUBLIC MEETINGS ON YUCCA MOUNTAIN N-WASTE STUDY

Release Date: 9/5/1995
Contact Information: Dave Schmidt, U.S. EPA, (415) 744-1578

  (San Francisco)--  The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) today announced that it will hold public meetings in Amargosa Valley and Las Vegas on September 20 and 21 to discuss the National Acadamy of Sciences (NAS) report on developing radiation protection standards for the proposed Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository, and other issues related to establishing the standards.  

     The first meeting will be held September 20 in the Multi-
Purpose Building, 821 East Farm Road, Amargosa Valley, from 1:00
p.m. to 5:00 p.m., with a second session from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m..   The second meeting will be held September 21 in Wright Hall Room 103, University of Nevada Las Vegas, 4505 Maryland Parkway in Las Vegas (see campus map on page 57 of the Las Vegas telephone
directory for directions), from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., and from
6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.  

     Information on the public meetings and other U.S. EPA activities regarding Yucca Mountain may be obtained by calling (800) 331-9477.  Anyone wishing to speak at the public meetings is requested to register by September 14 by calling Deborah Schneider, (703) 893-6600, or sending a FAX to (703) 821-8236.

     The NAS report, entitled Technical Bases For Yucca Mountain Standards, gives recommendations on issues for consideration by U.S. EPA in setting radiation standards for the proposed facility that will protect public health and safety.  The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has the authority to license the repository, and will be responsible for implementing U.S. EPA's standards.  

     The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is responsible for all other aspects of planning the facility, including preparation of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).  DOE is currently holding a separate series of meetings on the scope and content of the EIS.  Information on the EIS and these meetings is available  from DOE at (800) 967-3477.

     Yucca Mountain is currently being studied as a potential underground disposal site for high-level nuclear waste and spent nuclear fuel.  It is located about 100 miles northwest of Las  Vegas.  The Energy Policy Act of 1992 requires U.S. EPA to set health and safety standards which would be specific to this one site.  That law also required U.S. EPA to contract with the NAS to conduct the study, which was completed on August 1.

     U.S. EPA welcomes written comments on the NAS report and on what U.S. EPA should do in response to it.  Written comments
should be sent to:

                       NAS Report Comments
           Radioactive Waste Management Branch (6602J)
               Office of Radiation and Indoor Air
              U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
                          401 M St. SW
                    Washington, DC 20460-0001

     Copies of the executive summary of the NAS report can be obtained by calling  1-800-331-9477, or 202-334-3313.  The entire report and other relevant documents can be viewed at the Government Publications Department, Dickinson Library, University of Nevada-Las Vegas, 4505 Maryland Parkway, Las Vegas.


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