Disposal of High-Level Nuclear Waste: Is It Possible?

High-level nuclear wastes (HLW) is defined as a high concentration of radioactive elements that will remain dangerous for a length of time - up to a few million years - if released to the biosphere. The question can high-level nuclear wastes be disposed? remains unanswered. Congress has designated Yucca Mountain, Nevada as the place for long-term storage of wastes that originate from fuel rods discarded from nuclear reactors or from the liquid waste produced when fuel rods are dissolved. Currently the State of Nevada is suing the Department of Energy (DOE) to stop any activity at Yucca Mountain, and DOE is suing Nevada for its obstruction tactics. It is predicted that it will be at least 2010 before any HLW will be put underground. The question is then raised if perhaps the US is pushing too hard to begin storing HLW underground. In Europe, no imminent storage is anticipated, and it is pointed out that current storage under water near surface leaves waste available if a use for it occurs, and also continued storage renders the waste easier to handle. Public opinion remains the final obstacle to underground storage of HLW.