On March 7, the DOE plans to re-submit legislation to Congress aimed at boosting efforts to build the troubled Yucca Mountain high-level nuclear waste repository. The legislation would change the budgeting process for the Nuclear Waste Fund, eliminate the current 70,000 metric ton limit, and provide permanent land withdrawals, among other things. While there is strong bipartisan support in both chambers for the Yucca program, any bill faces immediate and substantial hurdles -- starting with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's (D-NV) fierce opposition to the project. The metric ton limit is a key issue.
Next year, DOE is expected to report to Congress on the need for a second national repository, and thus the need to lift the 70,000-ton limit. DOE also provided Congress with estimates of the government's growing liability due to its failure to take nuclear waste off the nuclear utilities' hands by the original 1998 opening date for the repository. He said the $7 billion in liability grows by another $500 million each year the repository opening is delayed.
The most recent goal would be to open the Yucca Mountain High-level nuclear waste repository by 2017.