Blue Ribbon Commission on America's Nuclear Future
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A Blue Ribbon Commission on America's Nuclear Future was appointed by President Obama to look into future options for existing and future nuclear waste, following the ending of work on the incomplete Yucca Mountain Repository. At present, there are 70 nuclear power plant sites where 65,000 tons of spent fuel is stored in the USA. Each year, more than 2,000 tons are added to this total.[1][2] Nine states have "explicit moratoria on new nuclear power until a storage solution emerges".[3][4] A deep geological repository seems to be the favored approach to storing nuclear waste.[2]
On January 26, 2012, the Commission submitted its final report to Energy Secretary Steven Chu.[5] The Commission put forth seven recommendations for developing a comprehensive strategy to pursue. A major recommendation was that "the United States should undertake an integrated nuclear waste management program that leads to the timely development of one or more permanent deep geological facilities for the safe disposal of spent fuel and high-level nuclear waste".[6]
In the United States, a blue-ribbon panel (or blue ribbon commission) is a group of exceptional people appointed to investigate or study or analyze a given issue. Blue-ribbon panels generally have a degree of independence from political influence or other authority, and such panels usually have no direct authority of their own. Their value comes from their ability to use their expertise to issue findings or recommendations which can then be used by those with decision-making power to act.
At present there are 70 nuclear power plant sites where 65,000 tons of spent fuel is stored in the USA. Each year, more than 2,000 tons are added to this total.[1] US nuclear waste management policy completely broke down with the ending of work on the incomplete Yucca Mountain Repository.[2] Without a long-term solution to store nuclear waste, a nuclear renaissance in the U.S. remains unlikely. Nine states have "explicit moratoria on new nuclear power until a storage solution emerges".[3][4]
In a Presidential Memorandum dated January 29, 2010, President Obama established the Blue Ribbon Commission on America's Nuclear Future.[7] The commission, composed of fifteen members, conducted an extensive two-year study of nuclear waste disposal, what is referred to as the "back end" of the nuclear energy process.[7] The commission established three subcommittees: Reactor and Fuel Cycle Technology, Transportation and Storage, and Disposal.[7]
During their research the Commission visited Finland, France, Japan, Russia, Sweden, and the UK, and in 2012, the Commission submitted its final report.[5] The Commission did not issue recommendations for a specific site but rather presented a comprehensive recommendation for disposal strategies.[6]
Some nuclear power advocates argue that the United States should develop factories and reactors that will recycle some spent fuel. However, the Obama administration has disallowed reprocessing of nuclear waste, citing nuclear proliferation concerns.[8] The Blue Ribbon Commission said that "no existing technology was adequate for that purpose, given cost considerations and the risk of nuclear proliferation".[4] A deep geological repository seems to be favored.[2]
On January 26, 2012, the Commission submitted its final report to Energy Secretary Steven Chu.[5] In their final report the Commission put forth several recommendations for developing a comprehensive strategy to pursue. A major recommendation was that "the United States should undertake an integrated nuclear waste management program that leads to the timely development of one or more permanent deep geological facilities for the safe disposal of spent fuel and high-level nuclear waste".[6] There is an "international consensus on the advisability of storing nuclear waste in deep underground repositories",[9] but no country in the world has yet opened such a site.[9][10][11][12][13]
In their final report the Commission put forth seven recommendations for developing a comprehensive strategy to pursue:[6]
Co-chairmen of the Commission were Lee H. Hamilton and Brent Scowcroft, and members of the Commission included, Vicky Bailey, Albert Carnesale, Pete Domenici, Susan Eisenhower, Chuck Hagel, Jonathan Lash, Allison M. Macfarlane, Richard Meserve, Ernest Moniz, John Rowe, and Phil Sharp.[1]
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