RE: Should we recycle nuclear waste?
You are correct when you write "Whether U.S. policy embraces reprocessing, we?d still need a repository for some radioactive materials." However, the statement: "As far as a central, super long-term storage facility, Energy Secretary Steven Chu has crossed Yucca Mountain off the list of options." is a bit less correct as Chu and Obama do not have the authority to do this under the Nuclear Waste Policy Act. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission's Atomic Safety and Licensing Board judges have ruled on Chu's request to withdraw the Yucca Mountain License Application and affirmed that Chu can NOT do this.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit plans to hear oral arguments March 22 on whether the Obama administration can shut down Yucca Mountain. Given that the NRC judges with the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board already ruled that DOE can?t withdraw the license the Circuit court has a significant precedent.
