The road to a global future where nuclear energy contributes clean, affordable power to developing nations along with strong safeguards to prevent proliferation begins in Nevada.
Until the U.S. can demonstrate the concept of geologic storage for high-level nuclear fuel at Yucca Mountain, progress toward advanced nuclear energy concepts is likely to be very slow. That’s the challenge the Department of Energy presented Sandia with early in 2006.
Moving from its position as one of many laboratories and institutions working on the huge Yucca Mountain Project in Nevada to the central role of coordinating the scientific activity would be a big step for any company. “We know this work and we have the most relevant management experience in performing and managing work to support the regulatory process,” said Andrew Orrell, Senior Project Manager.
Sandia is using its experience at Yucca Mountain, the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP), near Carlsbad, New Mexico, and other relevant projects to more efficiently direct efforts in Nevada. The goal: deliver to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission by June 2008, a defensible license application showing that YMP will be safe and meet federal requirements as the nation’s sole repository for high-level waste.