March 4
The Obama Administration has formally moved to end the national
nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain.
The U.S. Department of Energy filed a motion with prejudice Wednesday
with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to withdrawn license applications
for the high-level nuclear waste storage facility.
"President Obama is fully committed to ensuring that the Nation meets
our long-term storage obligations for nuclear waste," said Department of
Energy General Counsel Scott Blake Harris. "In light of the decision not
to proceed with the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository, the
president directed Secretary [Dr. Steven] Chu to establish the Blue
Ribbon Commission on Americaīs Nuclear Future 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 Nationīs used nuclear fuel and nuclear waste."
In its filing with the NRC, the Department of Energy states it no longer
feels the underground storage of the waste is viable, and states it
"does not intend to ever refile an application to construct a permanent
geologic repository for spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive
waste at Yucca Mountain."
Contact Waste & Recycling News reporter Amanda Smith-Teutsch at
330-865-6166 or
asmith-teutsch@crain.com
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