S.C. Sens. Graham, DeMint Support Idea of Recycling
Speaking before the Blue Ribbon Commission on America’s Nuclear Future on Friday January 7, Sen. Lindsay Graham (R-S.C.) and Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) expressed their support for recycling nuclear fuel and said that developing this capability at the Savannah River Site would create jobs and spur regional investment.
According to the Columbia, S.C. State newspaper, Graham said that Savannah River should take the lead in developing recycling technology in the United States.
“I’m very willing for the Savannah River Site to be the research and the development facility for the nation to make that idea a reality,’’ Graham, R-S.C., told the Blue Ribbon Panel on America’s Nuclear Future, which held the hearing. “The goal of reprocessing and recycling is to reduce your storage footprint, right?”
A spokesperson for Sen. DeMint said in a statement: “I would urge the commission to fully explore the possibilities available in dealing with this waste, including nuclear recycling.”
The Blue Ribbon Commission on America’s Nuclear Future was formed “to conduct a comprehensive review of policies for managing the back end of the nuclear fuel cycle and to provide recommendations for developing a safe, long-term solution to managing the Nation’s used nuclear fuel and nuclear waste.”
Friday’s meeting accompanied a visit by members of the Blue Ribbon Commission to the Savannah River Site. In August, AREVA laid out its vision for the panel for developing recycling technology in the United States.
“AREVA supports an integrated approach that ensures options including recycling, interim storage, and disposal. Commercial recycling of used nuclear fuel has a long, successful, safe and secure history. AREVA has successfully and profitably operated and supported commercial recycling facilities for more than four decades,” Executive V.P. Dr. Alan Hanson told the members of the panel.
Recycling offers a number of advantages compared with the once-through technology now used in the United States. It conserves natural resources – by recycling the material at our plant sites we could power America’s reactors for about six years. It makes the long-term management easier by reducing the amount of waste that must go to a permanent repository. Additionally, it reduces other concerns, because the final waste product contains no fissionable material and is more resistant to the environment.
Read more here.
Tweet TAGS: Blue Ribbon Commission, BRC, Savannah River, Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.), Sen. Lindsay Graham (R-S.C.)
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