CRITIC TO MAKE CASE ON YUCCA

to move forward so that the science behind the project could be heard.

Halstead spoke with the Sun about the panel and Yucca.

What’s the goal of the “Yucca Mountain Restart” panel?

I’d like people to take away an understanding that Nevada’s opposition to Yucca Mountain is very deep and strong, aside from folks in Nye County (and some others). In Gov. (Brian) Sandoval’s State of the State in January, he promised relentless opposition and maximum resources.

I hope to explain the ways in which the state’s opposition is based on concerns about safety and protection of the environment. Nevada’s opposition is based on a detailed understanding of the deficiencies in the site of Yucca Mountain. It should never have been chosen as a repository site, if we were working on earth science rather than political science.

The Department of Energy’s … repository design does not overcome the deficiencies at the repository site. (Nevada’s) opposition is based on a real understanding of the earth science and a real understanding of the engineering and operating issues that are involved with DOE’S proposal. A lot of people have a mushy idea in their head that, “Oh, everything that’s wrong with Yucca Mountain could be fixed, and why won’t the state just sit down and talk about fixing it.” That isn’t the case.

Geologic disposal means that the site is supposed to work without engineered barriers. The geology and the hydrology are supposed to isolate the waste. That is absolutely not the case at Yucca Mountain. Even DOE is forced to admit that without engineered barriers the site will fail in less than 1,000 years, let alone the million-year standard that it has to meet.

I want to have people leave that presentation knowing that not only is the state opposed, but the state is opposed for technical reasons. We’re going to win on those issues in the licensing proceeding, if in fact Congress decides to restart all of this.

What’s next for Yucca Mountain?

No one knows at this point. We won’t know (in early September) what’s going to happen with the congressional appropriations process. Presumably both agencies under the Trump administration’s March directive to restart the program are doing that. But they really can’t do very much unless they get massive new funding — $120 million requested for DOE, $30 million requested for NRC for the federal fiscal year that begins on Oct. 1.

The state is preparing for a worst-case scenario on the policy front … that DOE restarts their Yucca program, which has been dormant really since 2011. (Energy Secretary) Rick Perry has said the DOE intends to go forward with the Yucca licensing proceeding depending on whether Congress gives them the money. The state is preparing for a full resumption of the licensing proceeding, even though we think that’s a terrible mistake in terms of what’s good for Nevada … (and) the country.

Will Yucca Mountain supporters outnumber opponents at the Radwaste summit?

It’s rare that you get this many pro-nuclear waste, pro-yucca Mountain people in one place at one time. It’s always interesting to go and talk to people … This conference is going to be filled with people who think Yucca Mountain is a good idea. I don’t know that I’m going to change anybody’s mind, because this is almost a religious controversy now.

The overwhelming majority of people at this conference are people who think Yucca Mountain going forward is a good idea.

What are the key topics on the Radwaste Summit agenda?

The three hot topics are going to be Yucca Mountain, what to do about spent nuclear fuel and high-level waste until Yucca Mountain is ready — or if Yucca Mountain isn’t ready ever — and then ... cleanup at DOE weapons facilities.

I try to spend a lot of time at the beginning of my presentations these days explaining to people, “Guys, there’s no repository there.” The tunnel cannot be used for storage or disposal. Even if the existing tunnel were to be worked into the design of a repository — it’s 5 miles long — you need a minimum of 40 miles of tunnels and drifts (another type of tunnel) and probably closer to 90 miles.

A repository at Yucca Mountain is at least $82 billion (on top of the $15 billion already spent) and 20 or 25 years away. yvonne.gonzalez@gmgvegas. com / 702-990-2464 / ymgonzal