[Rhodes22-list] Nuclear waste Issue

[Ronald Lipton]

Waste is at least a significant social problem.  The technical solutions
which exist all have drawbacks, any of which seems unacceptable to
at least some constituency.  Yucca mountain is now being help up in
an argument over whether it is to be certified for 10,000 years or
100,000 years (I forget the exact numbers).  This is past the realm of
technical decision.

Any closed fuel cycle system (breeder reactors) has the problem of
additional transportation and reprocessing of significant amounts of
fuel, with the attendant risk of terrorism or redirection.  In addition 
there
is a hugh capital investment required, again requiring some significant
level of assurance that the solution is socially acceptable in the end.
There are a number of closed fuel cycle proposals with inherently stable
reactors and advanced fuel processing which appear to be promising.
The level of economic commitment necessary to implement any of them
implies strong political support as well - I don't see that for a while 
yet.

Ron
(At this point I should come out of the closet and admit that I am a
physicist.  it doesn't mean that I am right about these things - just 
more
embarrassed when I am wrong)

On Jan 7, 2005, at 4:31 PM, ed kroposki wrote:

>
> Rummy,
> 	Nuclear wastes from energy production facilities are not the issue
> that alleged environmentalist claim.  A bigger problem is the 
> radioactive
> waste from medical and research uses. Another problem is lack of wind 
> on
> Hartwell, even though the temperature is fine.
>
> Roger,
> 	Wouldn't breeder reactors solve much of the nuclear waste related to
> power production?  Yuka mountain is not on schedule. There are still
> lawsuits and political issues.
>
> Ed K                                               Greenville, SC, USA
> Addendum:  Joke: A charter sailing vessel with load of politicians was 
> half
> way to the Bahamas when a freak storm hit the boat. Several of the
> passengers were thrown overboard and drowned. After retrieval of the 
> bodies
> and with the knowledge that they may not be rescued for some time, if 
> ever,
> the deceased were buried at sea.
> Three days later, the local Coast Guard found the damaged craft. Upon
> boarding, the Coast Guard Captain asked, "Is everyone okay?" The 
> Captain of
> the damaged vessel explained that he had a few passengers fall over 
> board.
> The Coast Guard Captain asked, "Are they all dead?"
> The Sailing boat captain replied, "Well, some of them said they 
> weren't, but
> you know how those politicians lie."
>
>
>
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