Nuclear waste can be stored safely for up 60 years after life of reactor, says NRC

16 September 2010 - Radioactive waste from nuclear power plants can be stored safely for up to 60 years beyond the licensed life of a reactor.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission released this finding this week and approved final revisions to its “Waste Confidence” regulation, previously stating waste could be stored safely for 30 years.

“The extension of the original language of 30 years to 60 years is the reflection of increased confidence in the confidence of the casks. When the 30-year period was written the casks were still a fairly new system,” said NRC spokesperson David McIntyre.

This all comes at a time when regulators are still considering the fate of Yucca Mountain in Nev., a proposed repository for nuclear waste that the Department of Energy has motioned to withdraw its application from. The original waste confidence regulation stated that the Commission was confident that there would be at least one operational mined geological repository in the first quarter of the 21st century. While the Obama administration has stopped the Yucca Mountain project for the time being, President Obama has asked a panel of experts to recommend alternatives; recommendations that are not due until January 2012. So the Commission has removed language discussing the operation of a permanent repository and stated that “sufficient repository capacity will be available when necessary.” The NRC did emphasize that the revisions of the waste confidence findings and rule are not intended to signal an endorsement of indefinite storage of spent fuel at reactor sites.

"Today the commission affirmed our confidence that spent nuclear fuel can be stored safely and securely without significant environmental impacts for at least 60 years after operation at any nuclear power plant." said NRC Chairman Gregory B. Jaczko in a prepared statement. “We also directed the NRC staff to conduct additional analysis for longer-term storage to ensure that we remain fully informed by current circumstances and scientific knowledge relating to spent fuel storage and disposal.”

This finding also comes at a time when new nuclear build is grabbing the headlines in the media surrounding the nuclear power industry. Federal loan guarantees are in place for new nuclear power plants to be constructed which can reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. due to the fact that nuclear plants do not emit carbon dioxide. This new rule could possibly eliminate some concerns about waste storage in the U.S. as part of the licensing new facilities; a concern that opposition to nuclear power tends to bring up. Currently NRC has received 13 applications to license 22 new reactors.

McIntyre said that with another decade of experience along with additional testing, monitoring and looking at security aspects after 9/11 it gives the NRC extra confidence in the casks design from a long term safety standpoint. He continued on to say that since the waste can be stored safely, waste storage is not an issue that opponents of nuclear plants can contest in an adjunction hearing.

The NRC has 60 days to incorporate the revisions to the Waste Confidence rule.