Section Page
Executive Summary ES-1
1.0 Basis for White Pine County Impact Report 1
1.1 Why this Report has been Prepared 1
1.2 Impacts Result from Unwanted Project 3
1.3 White Pine County Status as an Affected Unit of Local Government 3
1.4 Local Initiatives Supporting Preparation of this Report 4
1.4.1 White Pine County Sponsored Research 4
1.4.2 Input to DOE NEPA Compliance Activities 5
2.0 White Pine County in Perspective 6
2.1 Location and Physiography 6
2.2 Economy 8
2.3 Population 9
2.4 Transportation 9
2.5 Relationship to the Yucca Mountain Repository System 10
3.0 Types of Effects Considered 14
3.1 Timing of Impacts 14
3.2 Nature of Impacts 14
3.2.1 Direct 14
3.2.2 Indirect 15
3.2.3 Cumulative Effects 15
3.2.4 Conflicts with Plans 15
3.2.5 Unavoidable 16
3.3 Impact Scenarios 16
4.0 Characterization of Impacts 22
4.1 Radiation Exposure 22
4.2 Socioeconomic 25
4.2.1 Employment 25
4.2.2 Income 27
4.2.3 Population 27
4.3 Public Infrastructure and Services 34
4.3.1 Emergency Management 34
4.3.2 Emergency Medical 37
4.3.3 Local Oversight 38
4.4 Local Government Finance 39
4.5 Highway Transportation Accident Risk 41
4.6 Public Perception and Stigma 44
4.6.1 Tourism 46
4.6.2 Economic Development 50
4.6.3 Real Property 50
5.0 Mitigation of Impacts 54
5.1 Council on Environmental Quality Defined Impact Management Techniques 54
5.2 Recommendations for Mitigation of Impacts Within White Pine County 55
5.2.1 Radiation Exposure 55
5.2.2 Socioeconomic 57
5.2.2.1 Employment 57
5.2.2.2 Income 58
5.2.2.3 Population 58
5.2.3 Public Infrastructure and Services 58
5.2.3.1 Emergency Management 58
5.2.3.2 Emergency Medical 61
5.2.3.3 Local Oversight 62
5.2.4 Local Government Finance 62
5.2.5 Highway Transportation Accident Risk 62
5.2.6 Public Perception and Stigma 63
5.2.6.1 Tourism 63
5.2.6.2 Economic Development 64
5.2.6.3 Real Property 65
5.3 Delayed (Anticipated) Effects 65
6.0 Equity Considerations 67
List of References 72
List of Tables
Table Page
Table 4.1 Unemployment in White Pine County 1995-2000 27
Table 4.2 Population for White Pine County 1990-2010 28
Table 4.3 White Pine County Zoning Within 800 Meter Risk Zone Along Highway Corridors in the Vicinity of Ely – McGill and Preston – Lund Community Areas 33
Table 4.4 DOE Funding for White Pine County NWPO Oversight Activity 39
Table 4.5 Potential Number of Nuclear Waste Shipments with Legal-Weight Trucks 42
Table 4.6 White Pine County: State and National Park Visitation 48
Table 4.7 Potential Dollar Reduction in Property Value for the City of Ely Based on Recent Data and Research 53
List of Figures
Figure
Figure 1 White Pine County’s Relative Position To Yucca Mountain 7
Figure 2 Existing Land Use Along Potential Transportation Route 29
Figure 3 Existing Land Use Along Potential Transportation Route in the Vicinity of Ely, Nevada 30
Figure 4 Existing Land Use Along Potential Transportation Route, McGill, Nevada 31
Figure 5 Existing Land Use Along Potential Transportation Route, Lund and Preston, Nevada 32
Figure 6 Proximity of Difficult Evacuation Sites to Potential Transportation Route, White Pine County, Nevada 36
Figure 7 Proximity of Major Tourist Destinations to Potential Transportation Route, White Pine County, Nevada 47