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Highly radioactive wastes from “next generation” nuclear reactors

waste from the next generation plants that use enriched uranium fuel would be two to 158 times more radioactive than waste from existing Canadian reactors….. unfairly paid for by taxpayers, ratepayers and future generations.”

Waste from proposed nuclear plants more radioactive: report The Vancouver Sun, By Mike Desouza, Canwest News Service May 31, 2010 The latest generation of proposed multi-billion dollar Canadian nuclear plants could be up to 158 times more hazardous than their predecessors, opening the door to massive cost overruns and possibly forcing taxpayers to pick up the tab, warns a report to be released today………..

“Canada’s present generation of nuclear plants was built with no prior plan as to how to manage the radioactive wastes it would produce,” said the report, prepared by independent consulting firm, Radioactive Waste Management Associates.

“Canada is arguably on the cusp of repeating this mistake.”

The New York-based firm was created in 1989 and consists of expert scientists and engineers who have regularly advised local governments in North America on waste management…..It concludes that the waste from the next generation plants that use enriched uranium fuel would be two to 158 times more radioactive than waste from existing Canadian reactors that use natural uranium fuel.

“With no technically proven and socially acceptable repository operating anywhere in the world, cost estimates of such are highly uncertain,” said the analysis. “This report concludes that the magnitude of these increases in costs and hazards has not been adequately assessed, and that if these factors are left (not) assessed and underestimated, proceeding with new nuclear reactor construction would be granting a de facto subsidy to the industry, unfairly paid for by taxpayers, ratepayers and future generations.”

Waste from proposed nuclear plants more radioactive: report

June 3, 2010 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Canada, wastes | antinuclear, enriched, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear renaissance, nuclear secrecy, nuclear spin, nuclear wastes, radiation, radioactive, reactors, uranium