Is spent fuel or waste from reprocessed spent fuel simpler to dispose of
Although there is general agreement that the US should safely and permanently dispose of high-level nuclear waste, there is substantial disagreement about whether that should include spent fuel or just the unusable part of the spent fuel that remains after chemical reprocessing. Currently, the Department of Energy plans to permanently dispose of spent fuel without reprocessing, but some experts believe that this will waste a valuable source of uranium and plutonium and pose special waste isolation problems. From the viewpoint of nuclear waste disposal alone, GAO believes it makes sense that spent fuel not be buried in a repository, but instead be reprocessed to recover the valuable uranium and plutonium. But an important - and unknown - factor in this decision is the future role of commercial nuclear power in the United States. Until the Congress makes a decision on the future of nuclear power, DOE has no option but to plan for any eventuality - including the potential geological disposal of spent fuel. Other long-term storage options are available which would keep spent fuel above ground easily accessible for future use. DOE's consideration of these options would guarantee that the United States is able to handle any eventuality regarding the future need for nuclear power.
- Research Organization:
- General Accounting Office, Washington, DC (USA). Office of the Comptroller General
- OSTI ID:
- 6362463
- Report Number(s):
- GAO/EMD-81-78; ON: TI86900359
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Report by the Comptroller General of the United States
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
29 ENERGY PLANNING
POLICY AND ECONOMY
SPENT FUELS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
ENGINEERED SAFETY SYSTEMS
EVALUATION
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
REPROCESSING
UNDERGROUND DISPOSAL
USA
ENERGY SOURCES
FUELS
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS
NORTH AMERICA
NUCLEAR FUELS
REACTOR MATERIALS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
052002* - Nuclear Fuels- Waste Disposal & Storage
290600 - Energy Planning & Policy- Nuclear Energy