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USA’s pro nuclear Blue Ribbon Waste Commission rejects nuclear reprocessing

The good news: The BRC rejects reprocessing for now. The report states: “No currently available or reasonably foreseeable reactor and fuel cycle technology developments—including advances in reprocess and recycle technologies—have the potential to fundamentally alter the waste management challenge this nation confronts over at least the next several decades, if not longer. 

Waste Commission rubberstamps more nuclear, but rejects reprocessing – for now Beyond Nuclear 30 July 11, A year and a half after its creation, on July 29th Energy Secretary Chu’s “Blue Ribbon Commission on America’s Nuclear Future” (BRC) has published its draft report of recommendations for dealing with the mountain of U.S. high-level radioactive waste now nearly 70 years high.
The good news: The BRC rejects reprocessing for now. The report states: “No currently available or reasonably foreseeable reactor and fuel cycle technology developments—including advances in reprocess and recycle technologies—have the potential to fundamentally alter the waste management challenge this nation confronts over at least the next several decades, if not longer. Put another way, we do not believe that today’s recycle technologies or new technology developments in the next three to four decades will change the underlying need for an integrated strategy that combines safe, interim storage of SNF with expeditious progress toward siting and licensing a permanent disposal facility or facilities.”
The bad news: The BRC recommends continued funding for the industry that caused unsolvable radioactive waste problem in the first place and advocates centralized interim storage – and ultimately a permanent repository site – both of which raise transportation as well as on-site security risks among other problems. Beyond Nuclear is in  consensus with the position of a broad coalition of national, regional, and grassroots environmental groups that recommend hardened on-site storage at reactor sites as an interim measure to address ongoing, unacceptable risks with pools and dry casks. Despite repeated recommendations to the BRC, this option was not embraced by commission. Due to is safety and security risks and disproportionate targeting of indigenous lands, there is widespread opposition to centralized interim storage and the unnecessary radioactive waste transportation it would require. The BRC says it is open to public comment on its draft. Its final report is due out in early 2012.
Beyond Nuclear – Home – Waste commission rubberstamps more nuclear but rejects reprocessing – for now

July 30, 2011 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | reprocessing, USA