DOE Launches Nuclear Waste Disposal Initiative (energy.gov)

mdsolar writes: The Department of Energy is formally launching its initiative aimed at establishing a disposal site for spent nuclear fuel. The department said Monday that it is accepting input on the disposal plan, which centers on finding at least one place to store spent fuel, with the consent of the local community. Officials are also planning forums throughout 2016 to inform a more concrete plan for establishing a disposal site. It's a key step toward rolling out what the Obama administration thinks is the best way forward for nuclear waste disposal. It stands in stark contrast to the proposed Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository in Nevada, which was designated by Congress to be the country's main waste site, but which the Obama administration canceled amid strong local and state opposition to it.

Comments

Why not the Rocky Mountains?

[U2xhc2hkb3QgU3Vja3M]

Since Colossus isn't in service anymore, how about using its location?

Cancelled by Congress

[d34thm0nk3y]

I know it's fun to blame everything on Obama but the cancellation of the Yucca Mtn project was caused by the Department of Defense and Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, passed on April 14, 2011.

Approved by Congress, Cancelled by Congress.

Re:Cancelled by Congress

[Anonymous Coward]

The proper thing to to with the waste is use it to power a breeder reactor and get more of the energy out of the stuff. However, that was outlawed for no good reason so power plants are forced to define high energy radioactive material as 'waste' instead of 'fuel.'

If it hadn't been banned, fission byproduct recycling would probably be at the point where the most dangerous waste from a nuclear power plant is the irradiated lead used to construct parts of the containment.