Yucca history

Monday, July 8, 2002 | 11:04 a.m.

A chronology of developments on a national nuclear waste repository:

1978 -- First test hole is dug at Yucca Mountain in Nevada as part of a nationwide search for a nuclear waste site.

1982 -- Congress orders development of a permanent national disposal site for waste from commercial nuclear power reactors and the government's nuclear weapons program.

1986 -- Government pledges to take responsibility for high-level nuclear waste from commercial plants by 1989 and narrows potential sites to Nevada, Texas and Washington state.

1987 -- Congress designates Yucca Mountain as the only site to be studied.

1994-96 -- Utilities sue the Energy Department for not taking wastes as promised. Federal court sides with industry and says government must pay damages if waste is not taken.

1998 -- Energy Department fails to meet deadline for taking waste.

2001 -- Interim Energy Department report finds no "showstoppers" in scientific review of Yucca Mountain site. Estimated cost for construction, operation and monitoring over 100 years is put at $58 billion.

February 2002 -- President Bush concludes Yucca Mountain is scientifically sound and announces plans to seek a permit for the waste site.

April -- Nevada vetoes Bush's decision as allowed under federal nuclear waste law.

May -- House votes 306-117 to override Nevada's veto.

What is ahead:

July -- Senate expected to vote, possibly as early as this week, on whether to override Nevada objection, clearing the way for the project to proceed.

2003 -- Courts likely to rule on first of six lawsuits already filed by Nevada challenging the Yucca project if it proceeds.

2004 -- Energy Department plans to apply for construction permit. Licensing process before the Nuclear Regulatory Commission likely to take up to four years.

2010 -- Construction expected to be completed.

2010-2034 -- Shipments of 3,200 tons of waste a year to arrive at the Yucca site.