Vermont Yankee: What to do with spent fuel?

Vermont Business Magazine, Aug 01, 2004 by McQuiston, Timothy

Environmental Concerns

Like all industrial processes, nuclear power generation has by-product wastes: radioactive waste and hot water. Because nuclear generated electricity does not emit carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, nuclear power plants in the US prevent about as much greenhouse has emissions from 5 billion cars.

Radioactive wastes are the principal environmental concern for nuclear power. Most nuclear waste is low-level nuclear waste. It is ordinary trash, tools, protective clothing, wiping cloths and disposable items that have been contaminated with small amounts of radioactive dust or particles. These materials are subject to special regulation that govern their storage so they will not come in contact with the outside environment.

On the other hand, the irradiated fuel assemblies are highly radioactive and must be stored in specially designed pools resembling large swimming pools (water cools the fuel and acts as a radiation shield) or in specially designed dry storage containers. The older and less radioactive fuel is kept in the dry storage facility. It is sealed in special concrete reinforced containers.

The United States Department of Energy's long range plan is for this spent fuel to be stored deep in the earth in a geologic repository, at Yucca Mountain, NV, Currently, all spent (used) fuel is stored at the power plant at which it was used.

Source: US Department of Energy