Centralized Nuclear Waste Storage
Introduction
Approximately twenty percent of the electric power in America is generated through a nuclear reaction, and as a result of the production, high-level nuclear waste is created. Imperatively, the nation must find a way on how to store its nuclear waste. Yucca Mountain in the state of Nevada was identified by the Department of Energy and subsequently approved by both the Congressional and the Executive branches of government as a repository site for nuclear waste. However, Nevada State Politicians, in a desire to get elected, provide ample proof that nuclear waste has disadvantages, Department of Energy and United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission research on nuclear waste storage and economic advantages …show more content…
However, the biggest challenge in the nuclear usage is the storage and disposal of nuclear waste (Lipschutz & Dustin p483). Under the current situation, most western countries have reclamation programs to reprocess nuclear waste. Thus, are yet to establish centralized nuclear waste disposal and storage areas or zones. In most instances, countries that do not reprocess nuclear waste are stored in casks or dry storage at the nuclear facilities where the waste is produced. America does not reprocess their nuclear waste. Therefore, having a centralized nuclear waste center will allow the country to deal with the liability for natural disasters or terrorist actions that may come as a result of the scattering of radioactive waste throughout the country. For instance, underground sequestration is one of the best ways to manage nuclear waste (Aaltonen et al. p16). The approach would allow the country to collect its accrued nuclear wastes in one safe location underground and enable it to decay over time in a controlled environment separated from other environmental factors that have the potential to harm and undermine the
Introduction
Approximately twenty percent of the electric power in America is generated through a nuclear reaction, and as a result of the production, high-level nuclear waste is created. Imperatively, the nation must find a way on how to store its nuclear waste. Yucca Mountain in the state of Nevada was identified by the Department of Energy and subsequently approved by both the Congressional and the Executive branches of government as a repository site for nuclear waste. However, Nevada State Politicians, in a desire to get elected, provide ample proof that nuclear waste has disadvantages, Department of Energy and United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission research on nuclear waste storage and economic advantages …show more content…
However, the biggest challenge in the nuclear usage is the storage and disposal of nuclear waste (Lipschutz & Dustin p483). Under the current situation, most western countries have reclamation programs to reprocess nuclear waste. Thus, are yet to establish centralized nuclear waste disposal and storage areas or zones. In most instances, countries that do not reprocess nuclear waste are stored in casks or dry storage at the nuclear facilities where the waste is produced. America does not reprocess their nuclear waste. Therefore, having a centralized nuclear waste center will allow the country to deal with the liability for natural disasters or terrorist actions that may come as a result of the scattering of radioactive waste throughout the country. For instance, underground sequestration is one of the best ways to manage nuclear waste (Aaltonen et al. p16). The approach would allow the country to collect its accrued nuclear wastes in one safe location underground and enable it to decay over time in a controlled environment separated from other environmental factors that have the potential to harm and undermine the