In February 1983, the U.S. Department of Energy identified the Yucca Mountain site in Nevada as one of nine potentially acceptable sited for a mined geologic repository for spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste. The site is in the Great basin, which is one of five distinct geohydrologic settings considered for the first repository. To determine their suitability, the Yucca mountain site and the eight other potentially acceptable sites have been evaluated in accordance with the DOE's General Guidelines for the Recommendation of Sites for the Nuclear Waste Repositories. These evaluations were reported in draft environmental assessments, which were issued for public review and comment. After considering the comments received on the draft EAs, the DOE prepared the final EAs.