NRC extends comment period on draft plan

Monday, June 24, 2002 | 9:50 a.m.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has extended for another 45 days the period of time the public can comment on its Yucca Mountain review draft plan.

The comment time was due to end on Thursday, but the commission received requests for an extension. The new deadline is Aug. 12, according to an announcement published Friday.

The draft plan guides the Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff on evaluating a potential license application for a nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain, 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas. The Energy Department has said it plans to submit a proposed license application to the commission by December 2004.

While written comments will be accepted by the NRC, no further public hearings are scheduled, the commission staff said in the notice.

Even written comments received after Aug. 12 may be considered, the NRC notice said.

The documents is "Yucca Mountain Review Plan, NUREG-1804, Revision 2, Draft Report for Comment."

Written comments may be submitted to Michael T. Lesar, chief, Rules and Directives Branch, Division of Administrative Services, Office of Administration, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Mail Stop T-6D59, Washington, D.C., 20555-0001.

The draft plan is available on the Internet at www.nrc.gov. Go to the public involvement link, then the NRC Formal Publications link.