The Yucca Mountain Site Characterization Office collection (1958-2001) was assembled through a joint effort between the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and the James R. Dickinson Library, University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) to provide public access to documentation and correspondence about the proposed high-level radioactive waste geologic repository site near Yucca Mountain, Nevada. Materials include technical reports, contractor reports, public hearing transcripts, safety evaluation reports, environmental impact statements, emergency plans, inspection reports, licensee event reports, and general communications. The collection includes documents from several other government entities such as the Yucca Mountain Site Characterization Office, Department of Energy, Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management (OCRWM), Nevada Nuclear Waste Storage Investigations (NNWSI), United States Geological Survey (USGS), Sandia National Laboratories, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, and Los Alamos National Laboratory.

Oral history interview with Polly F. Lilly conducted by Connie L. Patterson on March 26, 1976 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project. In this interview, Lilly discusses a range of topics, from building a Catholic church in early Las Vegas, Nevada, to the nearby nuclear weapons tests. She also describes witnessing a confrontation between Senator Joseph McCarthy and Hank Greenspun on stage at the now demolished War Memorial Building in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Oral history interview with Dennis Ortwein conducted by Claytee D. White on May 06, 2009 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. Ortwein discusses moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1956 and his various careers as an elementary school teacher, a junior high teacher, and an elementary school principal. He also discusses working at a teacher's college in Nigeria, being a church choir director, and his experience as a singer. He then talks about school integration in Las Vegas and above-ground nuclear testing at the Nevada Test Site.

Oral history interview with Liermann L. Ousley conducted by Brian Emil on April 29, 1986 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Ousley discusses his career as a lineman, a type of electrician, in California and Nevada. Ousley also discusses how Las Vegas, Nevada has changed since moving there in 1933 and observing the first nuclear weapons test.

Oral history interview with John Pocock conducted by Jeffrey J. Wild on March 08, 1976 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Pocock describes his history as an Irish immigrant, his move to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1950, and life in the city during the 1950s. He discusses housing availability in Las Vegas and the development of the city, including the construction of casinos which he claims encouraged the growth of Las Vegas. He talks about working in a casino that eventually became the Sands Hotel and Casino, organized crime in Las Vegas, and the future of the city. Pocock concludes by discussing how Las Vegas and the quality of its customer service in casinos has changed, his recreational activities, and nuclear weapons testing.

Oral history interview with James Prather conducted by Bruce Finkelstein on March 09, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Prather discusses his childhood and personal history in Las Vegas, Nevada. Prather discusses his education, recreational activities he did as a child, and how Las Vegas has changed. Prather describes the swampy marshlands he used to play in near Las Vegas, viewing nuclear weapons tests and the nuclear fallout safety drills they would perform in school, and witnessing a plane crash in the North Las Vegas, Nevada area. Prather also discusses the arrival of Howard Hughes in Las Vegas and the effect he had on the city.

Oral history interview with James E. Reeves conducted by Patricia Elliot on March 10, 1981 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Reeves mainly discusses his work assisting the government perform nuclear weapons tests after being assigned to Las Vegas, Nevada by the Atomic Energy Commission.