Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Pete Domenici, who chairs the Senate’s Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee, today announced that Sandia National Laboratories in New Mexico has been selected by the Department of Energy as the lead laboratory to coordinate science work for the Yucca Mountain project.

DOE’s Office of Radioactive Waste Management today announced its intention to make Sandia the central manager for the technical and scientific work done at the Yucca Mountain repository.  Among the factors in the decision was the experienced gained by Sandia as a scientific advisor to the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in Carlsbad.

“Today’s announcement by the Department of Energy means that Sandia National Laboratories will be a major contributor to research and work done on nuclear waste issues, which is the key to the future of nuclear power development in our country.  Sandia features some of the best scientists in the country and will be able to provide the Yucca Mountain Project with strong, centralized leadership.  This is good news for Sandia and for Yucca Mountain,” said Domenici.

In its role as the lead laboratory for the project, Sandia will provide technical support for Yucca Mountain’s science needs, as well as assistance in preparing the license application for the repository for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.  If necessary, the lab will assist in defending the application by providing analysis, documents and scientific expertise during the legal process.

The switch to a single, centralized manager is also intended to improve performance by making the science program more cost effective and efficient.

Domenici’s subcommittee has funding jurisdiction over the Department of Energy and its national laboratories, including Sandia.  Domenici is also chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, which oversees the Yucca Mountain Project.