The bane of nuclear energy nuclear waste storage

How much nuclear waste is still stranded?

The U.S., which led the way on managing nuclear waste in the 1980s and 1990s, has now fallen to the back of the pack. About 88,000 metric tons of spent nuclear fuel from commercial reactors remain stranded at reactor sites, and this number is increasing by some 2,000 metric tons each year.

Should nuclear waste be disposed before power plant spent nuclear fuel?

Nuclear waste from the defense sector also has some technical characteristics — the inventory being bounded, smaller, cooler, and with less potential for reuse — that may argue for its disposal ahead of power plant spent nuclear fuel. Prepare for a large-scale transportation program. To date, the transportation of nuclear waste has been very safe.

Can the Department of Energy designate a nuclear waste storage site?

Under the Nuclear Waste Policy Act, the Department of Energy lacks the authority to designate an interim storage site unless that facility is tied to a plan to establish a deep mined geologic repository. That makes Murray’s efforts “pretty meaningless,” Lyman said. Murray concedes that his mission faces challenges.

How safe is the transportation of nuclear waste?

To date, the transportation of nuclear waste has been very safe. However, there are additional steps the federal government could take to prepare for the eventual larger-scale transportation campaign of spent nuclear fuel to either a consolidated interim storage site or a geologic repository.

Are Nations addressing their nuclear waste problem?

Nations that followed this blueprint are now addressing their nuclear waste problem. Sweden’s SKB nonprofit announced last year that it will build a deep geologic repository at Östhammar for the permanent disposal of spent fuel from its commercial nuclear reactors.

Can nuclear waste be safely isolated in deep underground repositories?

Despite the scientific community assessing that commercial spent nuclear fuel and other high-level radioactive waste, such as from defense activities, can be safely isolated in deep underground repositories, U.S. efforts to license and operate one have flatlined.