Development of Rail Access to the Proposed Repository Site at Yucca Mountain

by Paul N. Standish, Westinghouse, Las Vegas, United States,
Paul E. Seidler, Westinghouse, Las Vegas, United States,
William B. Andrews, Westinghouse, Las Vegas, United States,
Gui Shearin, Westinghouse, Las Vegas, United States,



Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: High Level Radioactive Waste Management 1991

Abstract:

In accordance with the Nuclear Waste Policy Amendments Act of 1987, Yucca Mountain was designated as the initial site to be investigated as a potential repository for the disposal of high-level radioactive waste. The Yucca Mountain site is an undeveloped area located on the southwestern edge of the Nevada Test Site (NTS), about 100 miles northwest of Las Vegas. The site currently lacks rail service or an existing right-of-way. If the Yucca Mountain site is found suitable for the repository, rail service is considered desirable by the Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management (OCRWM) program because of the potential of rail transportation to reduce (1) costs and (2) number of shipments, relative to highway transportation. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct a study to determine (1) that there are alignments for a potential rail line from existing mainline railroads to Yucca Mountain and (2) that these are consistent with present rail design standards and are acceptable relative to environmental and land access considerations.

Subject Headings: Rail transportation | Radioactive wastes | Waste disposal | Waste sites | Waste management | Site investigation | Underground storage | Nevada | United States | Las Vegas

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