Tribes admitted to Yucca case

A panel of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has recognized councils of the Shoshone and Paiutes as having standing for the purpose of being a party to the Yucca Mountain case.

The NRC’s Atomic Safety Licensing Board Panel Construction Authorization Board found that Native Americans will be directly affected by the proposed waste dump for high level wastes and are therefore entitled to be parties to the case.

The tribes have been opposed to the dump on grounds that it would be built on Native American lands. The Board found this a “viable” claim that the tribes can argue in the case.