Past Approaches for Spent Nuclear Fuel, Transuranic, and High-Level Waste Disposal in the United States—Part 2: Siting Process, Staged Development, and Public Preferences

Summary

This report provides an in-depth review of the United States' approximately 50-year experience in siting and developing deep geologic repositories for spent nuclear fuel, transuranic, and high-level radioactive waste. It details the historical approaches, regulatory frameworks, staged site investigation processes, and the significant role of public preferences and institutional stakeholders, focusing on the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) and the proposed Yucca Mountain repository. While WIPP is an operating facility for transuranic waste, the challenge of permanently disposing of all commercial spent nuclear fuel and high-level waste in the US remains an ongoing national effort, with lessons from these past experiences intended to aid other countries.

Key Facts

Source Document

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