Nuclear Wastes

Disposal of radioactive waste from nuclear weapons production and power generation has caused public outcry and political consternation. Nuclear Wastes presents a critical review of some waste management and disposal alternatives to the current national policy of direct disposal of light water reactor spent fuel. The book offers clearcut conclusions for what the nation should do today and what solutions should be explored for tomorrow. The committee examines the currently used "once-through" fuel cycle versus different alternatives of separations and transmutation technology systems, by which hazardous radionuclides are converted to nuclides that are either stable or radioactive with short half-lives. The volume provides detailed findings and conclusions about the status and feasibility of plutonium extraction and more advanced separations technologies, as well as three principal transmutation concepts for commercial reactor spent fuel. The book discusses nuclear proliferation; the U.S. nuclear regulatory structure; issues of health, safety and transportation; the proposed sale of electrical energy as a means of paying for the transmutation system; and other key issues. Table of Contents FRONT MATTER EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1 INTRODUCTION 2 SUMMARIES OF S&T PROPOSALS AND RADIONUCLIDES RELEASE SCENARIOS IN REPOSITORY 3 SEPARATIONS TECHNOLOGY 4 TRANSMUTATION SYSTEMS 5 DEFENSE WASTES 6 ANALYSIS OF THE ISSUES APPENDIXES A STATEMENT OF WORK B LIST OF COMMITTEE AND SUBCOMMITTEE ACTIVITIES C BASE CASE ONCE-THROUGH URANIUM FUEL CYCLE FOR LIGHT-WATER REACTOR WITH GEOLOGICAL REPOSITORY D SEPARATIONS TECHNOLOGY E DEFENSE WASTES -- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION F TRANSMUTATION CONCEPTS G EFFECTS ON REPOSITORY H NUCLEAR PROIFERATION ISSUES I HEALTH AND SAFETY J FUEL REPROCESSING ECONOMICS K SUMMARY OF INTERNATIONAL SEPARATIONS AND TRANSMUTATIONS ACTIVITIES L INTERIM REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON SEPARATIONS TECHNOLOGY AND TRANSMUTATION SYSTEMS M BIOGRAPHIES OF THE COMMITTEE ON SEPARATIONS TECHNOLOGY AND TRANSMUTATION SYSTEMS N GLOSSARY OF TERMS O ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS P GENERAL BIBLIOGRAPHY INDEX