Coalition urges congress to address used fuel issue

A coalition of nuclear of energy groups recently sent a joint letter to congressional leaders urging them to take action on issues surrounding nuclear waste.

Specifically, the group asked Congress to complete the review of the Yucca Mountain licensing application, implement a pilot consolidated interim storage facility with priority given to “stranded” used fuel at decommissioned nuclear power plant sites, and prepare for the transportation of used fuel and high-level radioactive waste.

“The undersigned organizations seek your leadership to ensure that the U.S. Department of Energy honors its commitments per the Nuclear Waste Policy Act and contracts with utilities to remove and dispose of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste that is currently stored at operating and shutdown reactor sites—as well as DOE’s federal facilities—in 37 states and over 100 communities,” the joint letter said.

The organizations that signed the letter included the Nuclear Energy Institute, American Nuclear Society, the Decommissioned Plant Coalition, the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners, the U.S. Nuclear Infrastructure Council and the Nuclear Waste Strategy Coalition.

“It is the federal government’s obligation to fund and implement a solution for the nation’s used fuel,” NEI Vice President of Governmental Affairs Beverly Marshall said. “Acting now would save American taxpayers billions of dollars—while also solving one of the nation’s long-standing political challenges.”