; (vi) potential conflicts with— (I) a compliance agreement requiring removal of nuclear waste from a site; or (II) a statutory prohibition on the storage or disposal of nuclear waste at a site; and (vii) any other criteria, including criteria relating to technical or safety specifications, that the Administrator determines to be appropriate. (B) Preference for co-located repository and storage facility In reviewing proposals submitted under paragraph (1), the Administrator shall give preference to sites proposed to be co-located with— (i) additional storage facilities for nonpriority waste; or (ii) a repository. (3) Site characterization (A) Determination of suitability After conducting a review under paragraph (2) and any additional site investigation that the Administrator determines to be appropriate, the Administrator shall determine whether the site is suitable for site characterization. (B) Selection of site for characterization From the sites determined to be suitable for site characterization under subparagraph (A), the Administrator shall select at least 1 site for site characterization, giving priority to sites that have been proposed to be co-located with a permanent geological repository, after— (i) holding public hearings in the vicinity of each site and at least 1 other location within the State in which the site is located; and (ii) notifying Congress. (C) Cooperative agreement On selection of a site for characterization under subparagraph (B), the Administrator may enter into a cooperative agreement, subject to section 401(e), with the State, affected units of general local government, and affected Indian Tribes, as applicable, that includes— (i) terms of financial and technical assistance to enable each applicable unit of government to monitor, review, evaluate, comment on, obtain information on, make recommendations on, and mitigate any impacts from, site characterization activities