This weekend, Watch List on PBS television in New York aired a segment that looked at the situation for nuclear waste in the United States. With over 100 reactors, the United States has accumulated over 60,000 tons of used fuel that is safely stored at reactor sites. However, the documentary points out that this is only a temporary solution, and that it is not a viable long term option for the United States.
Watch the full episode. See more Need To Know.
The report explains that used fuel is the responsibility of the Department of Energy, who was supposed to being managing and receiving this used fuel for long term storage in 1998. Over a dozen years later, there has been little progress, and the Obama administration has declared that Yucca Mountain is “off the table.” Now the administration has pulled together the Blue Ribbon Commission to examine the options.
One of these options being considered by the commission is used fuel recycling. Addressed in the film only as an approach dropped by the United States during the Cold War, recycling has a returned as a potential safe, cost-effective solution. With enhanced technologies and over 40 years of experience, AREVA recycles nuclear fuel safely and effectively for dozens of customers around the globe.
Noting that new nuclear plant construction is actually one area where Obama has strong Republican support, the report brings up the concern that as our nation grows with the nuclear energy revival, so does the need to implement a solid plan for managing our used fuel. Recycling nuclear fuel does offer a solid option as part of an integrated plan for managing used fuel.
The clear call to action made in this piece is to raise public awareness of the issue and for Americans to advocate for action and a real long-term strategy for the United States.
To find out more about recycling, here is a video of our La Hague Recycling Facility where AREVA has had decades of safe and successful experience recycling used nuclear fuel.
Tweet TAGS: Blue Ribbon Commission, BRC, Department of Energy, La Hague, PBS, Yucca Mountain
Posted in: Government & Policy, Nuclear Energy, Policy, Used Fuel | No Comments»
