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FRIDAY, MAY 17, 2002

MAP: Tribes located near Yucca Mountain site. PDF: Sites where waste is currently stored.

Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham at a Senate hearing on Thursday said the Yucca Mountain facility in Nevada might need to be expanded to handle all the nation's nuclear waste.

The department wants to store up to 77,000 tons of radioactive waste at the site. Currently, about 45,000 tons is stored at above-ground sites across the country.

But by the time Yucca Mountain opens in 2010 -- assuming no lengthy delays -- there will be 65,000 tons of waste, Abraham said. About 2,000 tons are generated yearly.

Abraham said an expansion can be considered after 2007.

In a recent editorial published in The Washington Post, Abraham noted that the Skull Valley Goshute Tribe of Utah wants to store up to 44,00 tons on its reservation.

The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee will resume testimony next week for two more hearings.

Get the Story:
Nevada senators spar with Abraham during Yucca hearing (The Las Vegas Review-Journal 5/17)
Energy secretary admits space limitations at Yucca site (The Reno Gazette-Journal 5/17)
Energy secretary admits that nuclear waste will pile up even after Yucca Mountain opens (AP 5/16)

Relevant Documents:
Written Testimony (5/16)

Relevant Links:
The Yucca Mountain Project, Department of Energy - http://www.ymp.gov
Nuclear Waste Project Office - http://www.state.nv.us/nucwaste

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