The effective termination of the Yucca Mountain program by the U.S. Administration in 2009
has left the U.S. program for management of used fuel and high level radioactive waste (HLW)
in a state of uncertainty. In concert with this major policy reset and in response to the resulting
policy vacuum, the President directed the Energy Secretary to establish the Blue Ribbon
Commission on America’s Nuclear Future (BRC) “…to conduct a comprehensive review of
policies for managing the back end of the nuclear fuel cycle and to provide recommendations for
Dear Members of the South Carolina Congressional Delegation:
Thank you all for your letter of October 27th. We appreciate hearing your views on the
Yucca Mountain project, the safety benefits of deep geologic disposal, and the
importance of the retaining the H Canyon facility at the Department of Energy’s
Savannah River Site.
In our draft report, the Commission finds that deep geologic disposal is an essential
component of a comprehensive nuclear waste management system. Your comments
This report describes a novel approach developed at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory
(ORNL) for the estimation of the uncertainty in the prediction of the neutron multiplication factor
for spent nuclear fuel. This technique focuses on burnup credit, where credit is taken in criticality
safety analysis for the reduced reactivity of fuel irradiated in and discharged from a reactor.
Validation methods for burnup credit have attempted to separate the uncertainty associated with
This paper draws on my experience as a reviewer of the scientific programs and performance assessments of the geological repository for transuranic waste at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in New Mexico and the proposed repository for spent nuclear fuel and high-level waste at Yucca Mountain in Nevada. In addition, I have served on numerous committees of the National Research Council that have addressed many aspects of nuclear waste management.
The objective of this calculation is to provide the uncertainty term for fission product and minor actinides which contributes to the determination of the critical limit for burnup credit calculations. The scope of this calculation covers PWR and BWR spent nuclear fuel. This activity supports the Criticality Department's validation of burnup credit. The intended use of these results is in future Criticality Department calculations and analyses.
The purpose of this study is to provide a preliminary geotechnical data base sufficient to initiate the development of Long-Term Risk Models (LTRM), for salt domes, basalt and crystalline rock, and identify technical issues requiring additional investigation.
Summary of radioactive waste and management programs in Sweden, including national nuclear energy context; sources, types, and quantities of waste; radioactive waste management policies and programs; research and development; decommissioning and dismantling policies and projects; transport; authorities and implementing organizations; financing; and public information.
Web page from SKB's website (Swedish Nuclear Fuel and Waste Management Company), announcing that it has selected Forsmark, in the municipality of Östhammar, as the site for the final repository for Sweden's spent nuclear fuel.
Web page from SKB's website (Swedish Nuclear Fuel and Waste Management Company) discussing the ongoing cooperation between SKB and both Östhammar, where the repository is to be sited, and Oskarshamn, where the encapsulation plant is to be located.
Report prepared by ANDRA, the French National Radioactive Waste Management Agency, for preparing for public debate in 2013.
A summary of ANDRA's research into disposal of radioactive waste in a deep geologic repository, examining both clay and granite.
A report documenting ANDRA's research on deep disposal of radioactive waste, examining both clay and granite formations.
Presentation given by François-Michel Gonnot at the Stockholm Talks on October 2, 2013 regarding Cigéo, the French Geological Disposal Project.
Annual report by ANDRA, the French National Radioactive Waste Management Agency, regarding its activities in 2011.
Annual report produced by ANDRA, the French National Radioactive Waste Management Agency describing its activities in 2010.
Newsletter produced by ANDRA, the French National Radioactive Waste Management Agency.
Newsletter produced by ANDRA, the French National Radioactive Waste Management Agency.
Newsletter produced by ANDRA, the French National Radioactive Waste Management Agency.
Newsletter produced by ANDRA, the French National Radioactive Waste Management Agency.
Newsletter produced by ANDRA, the French National Radioactive Waste Management Agency.
Press release by STUK stating that it will be reviewing Posiva Oy's license application for constructing a repository for disposal of spent nuclear fuel.
Presentation by Posiva Oy at The Stockholm Talks on October 2, 2013 on the status of the Finnish nuclear waste management program.
