Energy Institute Calls for Permanent Solution for America's Nuclear Waste
June 3, 2009
Urges Consideration of Interim Storage, Recycling, and Salt Storage
WASHINGTON, DC – June 3, 2009 – In a new report issued today, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Institute for 21st Century Energy called on the Obama administration to commit to a permanent solution for the nation’s used nuclear fuel and nuclear waste.
The report, titled Revisiting America’s Nuclear Waste Policy, examines the nation’s nuclear waste policies which to this point have failed to remove used fuel stored in 39 states.
Yucca Mountain has been demonstrated to be the best solution under current law, but is by no means the only solution for managing America’s nuclear waste, said Christopher Guith, the Institute’s Vice President for Policy. If the Obama administration and Congress plan to change course after 30 years of independent scientific review and billions in investment, they have a legal responsibility to the American people and utilities that have paid more than $28 billion in fees and interest to immediately craft a workable long-term solution.
The Institute also examines the scientific, economic, and security challenges in its report, and offers recommendations to the Obama administration and the U.S. Congress to safely manage the nation’s current and future nuclear waste. The entire report may be viewed at www.energyxxi.org.
Specifically, the report recommends that our national leaders consider the following priorities to put America on a long-term path for safe nuclear waste disposal, including:
Move management of the nation’s waste plan from DOE to an outside entity-such as a government corporation-with access to the Nuclear Waste Fund.
Begin siting and licensing centralized interim storage locations for used nuclear fuel and nuclear waste, which currently sit in 121 locations in 39 states, on DOE sites and/or other sites that have expressed interest in temporarily storing the used fuel.
Close the nuclear fuel cycle to harness the energy in used fuel, lessen the volume of waste, and reduce security risks and determine what technologies and timelines should be employed.
Fully fund the Yucca Mountain license application process and gain knowledge and insight into permanent repository.
Evaluate the retrievability requirement in the Nuclear Waste Policy Act for waste disposed in a permanent repository and consider other mediums and locations with fewer political, regulatory, scientific, or economic obstacles.
Consider whether utilities should continue paying a nuclear waste fee and consider depositing the fees in a private escrow account.
As an emissions-free, reliable technology, nuclear energy will continue to play a key role in addressing climate change concerns and meeting demand with affordable and reliable electricity, Guith said. The time is ripe to revisit our plans for managing the growing volume of used nuclear fuel and to finally commit to a workable plan.
U.S. Chamber’s Institute for 21st Century Energy
The mission of the U.S. Chamber’s Institute for 21st Century Energy is to unify policymakers, regulators, business leaders, and the American public behind a common sense energy strategy to help keep America secure, prosperous, and clean. Through policy development, education, and advocacy, the Institute is building support for meaningful action at the local, state, national, and international levels.
The U.S. Chamber is the world’s largest business federation representing more than 3 million businesses and organizations of every size, sector, and region. www.uschamber.com
