nuclear-news

The Blue Ribbon Commission on America’s Nuclear Future – a panel of policy experts commissioned by Energy Secretary Steven Chu that included former U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M. – issued its 180-page report Thursday after nearly two years of study. The report cites the Waste Isolation Pilot Project, which stores nuclear waste near Carlsbad, as a premier example of how to site a nuclear waste disposal. 

But the report also said President Barack Obama’s decision to halt construction of the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste dump in Nevada early in his administration reflected a long-festering waste disposal policy that “has now all but completely broken down.”

“Put simply, this nation’s failure to come to grips with the nuclear waste issue has already proved damaging and costly and it will be more damaging and more costly the longer it continues,” the report says.  “The report is replete with references to (WIPP) in Carlsbad,” Domenici told the Journal, adding that the salty earth in southeastern New Mexico could be suitable for some additional nuclear waste storage. “That part of New Mexico has many sites that probably fit the bill. It’s a highly probable site in the future.”

The report stresses that any siting decision should be made with heavy input from the communities affected – and preferably only with their strong encouragement…..

WIPP currently stores waste such as plutonium-contaminated gloves and tools. Some, including Rep. Steve Pearce, R-N.M., have suggested that southeastern New Mexico be considered for even more radioactive nuclear waste. Pearce, who represents southern New Mexico, including Carlsbad, could not be reached for comment on the report Thursday.

It is unlikely that new decisions on where to build nuclear waste dumps will be made anytime soon. In fact, it could take many years. The report suggests a major overhaul of national nuclear waste policy, including establishing a new legal process for selecting sites and the creation of an independent, government-chartered corporation focused solely on carrying out the task of securing the waste. That job currently falls to the Department of Energy…..

Don Hancock, of Southwest Research and Information Center in Albuquerque and a frequent critic of WIPP, said he supports many of the report’s recommendations, including setting up a new government corporation, establishing new siting standards and creating a “consent-based approach.”

“But I clearly don’t agree with Domenici or anybody else saying we should be going ahead with southeastern New Mexico for either centralized (waste) storage or disposal,” Hancock said. “I also don’t think that’s going to happen anytime soon.”  http://www.abqjournal.com/main/2012/01/27/news/study-nm-could-lead-in-nuclear-waste-solution.html