Yucca Mountain in Nevada has been designated as leading site for disposal of our
nation’s nuclear waste. While protesters claim the government is ignoring possible
problems with the site, few alternatives have been offered...14
The salt mine caverns in Kansas were proposed at one time, but mining in the area
endangered any possible site there. Burying nuclear waste in the seafloor was also
rejected because radioactive material could seep through the ocean sediment and
contaminate the world’s water supply. Incasing it in the polar ice sheets was not
feasible because the ice sheets are not stable, and international treaties ban such
action. Launching nuclear waste into space sounded like a good alternative until cost and
safety issues were considered...14
Reprocessing the waste for fuel would cut the volume of solid waste but creates more
liquid waste. Reprocessing also creates more weapons-grade nuclear products that must be
secured against terrorists.
There are many technical factors to consider in selecting a site and a method of disposal.
Disposal must include confinement and isolation. Other countries have used near-surface
facilities either as engineered vaults or mined cavities. Disposal must be adequate to
protect people and the enviroment with out over-burdening future generations. It should
include multiple barriers and several levels of protection to isolate the waste and
contain any radiation that might leak. The site must be studied for envirmental hazards,
such as earthquakes and flooding that may adversely impact storage safety.
The final decission will be made by congress, so public opinion on nuculear waste disposal
is a major factor. In April of 2000, the President vetoed a measure to begin shipping to
Yucca Mountain in 2007...3Senators
Harry Reid and Richard Bryan of Nevada, argue that the waste should stay where it is until
the Enviromental Protection Agency developes radiation standard for a permanent site. The
nuclear industry claims that their storage facilities are already filled to capacity, so
something must be done soon...3
| Assignment |
|---|
| Form two groups; one group represents those in favor of Yucca Mountain as a nuclear waste disposal site and the other group is opposed. Each group must prepare an argument to present to the class. After the arguments are presented, write a summary of your individual position. |
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