Can Sisyphus succeed? Getting U.S. high-level nuclear waste into a geological repository

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Nuclear Engineering
• Public Policy

Background:

• The U.S. government is legally obligated to manage high-level radioactive waste from both defense and civilian nuclear power generation.
• Current waste management strategies are not meeting this federal obligation.
• The Blue Ribbon Commission's 2012 report offers guidance but lacks novel solutions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a critical perspective on the Blue Ribbon Commission's recommendations for nuclear waste management.
• To propose a viable path forward for fulfilling the U.S. government's obligation in managing radioactive waste.
• To analyze the challenges and offer insights based on extensive experience with nuclear waste technical review.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of the U.S. government's high-level radioactive waste management obligations.
• Review and critique of the January 2012 Final Report from the Blue Ribbon Commission on America's Nuclear Future.
• Leveraging historical experience from service on the Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board and the National Research Council's Board on Radioactive Waste Management.

Main Results:

• The Blue Ribbon Commission's report, while commendable, does not introduce significantly new approaches to radioactive waste management.
• A persistent challenge remains in establishing a long-term, stable solution for nuclear waste disposal, likened to the myth of Sisyphus.
• The author's perspective highlights the need for a breakthrough strategy to ensure waste containment.

Conclusions:

• Progress in U.S. high-level radioactive waste management requires innovative solutions beyond incremental guidance.
• A sustained effort is needed to overcome the cyclical failures in waste management, ensuring long-term security.
• The nation must find a definitive solution to permanently manage its nuclear waste legacy.