Nuclear wastes: end product or just the end. [Economic and social impacts of fuel cycle]
Until the nuclear fuel cycle is closed, nuclear power plants will operate at an economic disadvantage relative to fossil-fuel plants. Although eight new reprocessing plants for spent fuel are needed by 1980 to deal with the wastes that are accumulating, public reaction to nuclear wastes and the threat of plutonium proliferation has halted this portion of the cycle and required expanded storage facilities. ERDA expects to have a way to package wastes by 1978, but is still looking for an acceptable place for permanent storage. Public concerns center on the fear that levels of radioactivity will affect present and future generations and the fear that some plutonium will be diverted for use in weapons. These fears are examined and not found to be warranted as long as zero radiation and total safeguards are not the required goal. (DCK)
- OSTI ID:
- 7308398
- Journal Information:
- Energy (Stamford, Conn.); (United States), Journal Name: Energy (Stamford, Conn.); (United States) Vol. 2:2; ISSN ENGYD
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290600* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Nuclear Energy
ACTINIDES
ECONOMICS
ELEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
FUEL CYCLE
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
INDUSTRY
MANAGEMENT
METALS
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
NUCLEAR INDUSTRY
NUCLEAR MATERIALS DIVERSION
NUCLEAR MATERIALS MANAGEMENT
NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS
PLUTONIUM
POWER PLANTS
PROCESSING
PUBLIC RELATIONS
RADIATION HAZARDS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE PROCESSING
REGULATIONS
RELIABILITY
REPROCESSING
SAFEGUARDS
SECURITY
SEPARATION PROCESSES
STORAGE
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
TRANSURANIUM ELEMENTS
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING
WASTE STORAGE