Anonymously contributed:
U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu has announced the formation of a Blue Ribbon Commission on America’s Nuclear Future. The commission, led by former Congressman Lee Hamilton and former National Security Advisor Brent Scowcroft will provide recommendations for developing a safe, long-term solution to managing the Nation’s used nuclear fuel and nuclear waste.
Ho hum…another Blue Ribbon Committee that will spend $millions with boondogles to Russia, Europe, etc. only to produce a report in 2 years that will most likely say we need to do more R&D. Do you think they’ll study the Yucca Mountain option?
This is how the current Admin supports nuclear energy without ever really expanding nuclear energy.
In 2012 a new Admin will perhaps restart Yucca Mtn.
12 comments:
Congress, the courts, and the State of Nevada killed YM. The President is a realist and has decided to move on in order to keep nuclear power as a viable alternative.
From the DOE Nuclear Energy budget submission, a key phase is in the passage below - " not a workable option." Translation, "we've been spinning our wheels for the last 25 years on this and still are not close to getting it done, time to try something else."
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The Nuclear Waste Disposal Account was established as part of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 (P.L. 97-425), as amended, to provide funding to implement Federal policy for disposal of commercial spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste by the Office of Civilian Radioactive waste Management. The Administration has determined that developing a repository at Yucca Mountain, Nevada, is not a workable option and has decided to terminate the Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management. The Nation needs a different solution for nuclear waste disposal. As a result, in 2010, the Department will discontinue its application to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission for a license to construct a high-level waste geologic repository at Yucca Mountain and establish a Blue Ribbon Commission to inform the Administration as it develops a new strategy for nuclear waste management and disposal. All funding for development of the Yucca Mountain facility and the Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management will be eliminated by the end of FY 2010. The Administration remains committed to fulfilling its obligations under the Nuclear Waste Policy Act. Ongoing responsibilities under the Act, including administration of the Nuclear Waste Fund and the Standard Contract, will continue under the Office of Nuclear Energy, which will lead future waste management activities.
The President identified the Yucca Mountain Project in the Terminations and Reductions section of the fiscal year (FY) 2010 Congressional Budget Request submitted to Congress in May 2009. Since that time, the Department of Energy has been evaluating a range of options for bringing the project to an orderly close. In FY 2010, the Department of Energy will withdraw from consideration by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission the license application for construction of a geologic repository at Yucca Mountain, Nevada, in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements. In FY 2010, the Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management will prepare the Yucca Mountain site for stewardship and remediation. The Department will work closely with state and federal agencies to develop and implement a remediation plan for the site that adheres to all applicable statutes and regulations. The Office of Environmental Management (EM) staff will support remediation planning for the Yucca Mountain repository site. Per the Office of Nuclear Energy’s FY 2011 budget request, that organization will develop and execute a research and development program that will address critical scientific and technical issues associated with the long-term management and disposal of used nuclear fuel. The Office of Nuclear Energy will support the work of the Blue Ribbon Commission and the development of an integrated approach to waste management options.
Yet another "Go bring me another rock" scenario. And so it goes...
Congress, the courts, and the State of Nevada killed YM. The President is a realist and has decided to move on in order to keep nuclear power as a viable alternative.
When Nevada Sen. Harry Reid, a longtime opponent of the repository, became the Senate Majority Leader, Yucca's eventual derailing was a done deal -fulfilling Barack Obama's campaign promise to close Yucca Mountain.
It wasn't about science - it was pure politics at the expense of science.
BTW, Obama appointed a member of Harry Reid's staff as head of the NRC. So Obama is playing the game to get Reid's support in Congress.
Dr. Jaczko's professional career has been devoted to science, and its use and impact in the public policy arena. Immediately prior to assuming the post of Commissioner, Dr. Jaczko served as appropriations director for U.S. Sen. Harry Reid and also served as the Senator's science policy advisor. He began his Washington, D.C., career as a congressional science fellow in the office of U.S. Rep. Edward Markey.
Science my a--. It's pure politics as noted by February 3, 2010 10:10 AM
After 30 years, five presidents and $13 billion dollars we're back to square 1.
Only politicians could waste so much & then ask for more to do the same.
Washington, D.C. is all about politics - is this a big surprise? Nonetheless, trying to site a nuclear waste "dump" so close to Las Vegas, which lives solely off of the billion dollar a year tourist industry, was a mistake. Technically it made sense, politically is was stupid. The citizens of Nevada did not want it, and the federal government spent 13+ years trying to ram it down their throats. A site somewhere in upper South Dakota probably would have made more political sense.
February 4, 2010 5:52 AM
Well put
The Albuquerque Journal reported on Thursday that the White House has wiped out *all* FY2011 funding for the LANSCE upgrades at LANL (i.e., the "MaRIE" project). The Administration has said that they think LANSCE is unnecessary.
Too bad that LANL upper management put so many of their eggs into the "MaRIE" basket as their vehicle for program growth at their lab. It's turned out to be a total wipe-out.
trying to site a nuclear waste "dump" so close to Las Vegas, which lives solely off of the billion dollar a year tourist industry, was a mistake.
I agree that February 4, 2010 7:05 AM makes a good case but, we did above/underground testing of nuclear explosives out there for years. Testing stopped in 1992 but I don't recall Vegas suffering from lack of business becasue of the testing.
Just how is a waste storage site full of high paying jobs such a bad idea now.
Now that Nevada Pols are experiencing the loss of these high paying jobs, they want to Fed Gov to put them on the dole for the next decade, just to lessen the impact of Nevada's own decision.
Perhaps S.D. is a better location but it took 30 years to figure that out?
If Sen. Harry Reid and the state of Nevada don't want the high paying jobs that come with the Yucca Mountain repository, then I suggest we immediately shut it down.
Come to think of it, the Nevada Test Site (NTS) could be a danger too, given the explosives work and other things that go on out there in that isolated wasteland. Just to be safe, better shut down NTS, too.
I'm sure the citizens of Nevada will be very thankful to their wise politicians for bringing all these high paying jobs to an abrupt end during the worst economic downturn since the 1930s.
Let's keep the isolated, desolate and uninhabitable wastelands of Nevada pristine and job free!
Sen. Harry Reid is in big trouble back in his home state and will probably lose in the November elections.
I suggest he make a new campaign slogan to help with his election:
"Nevadans for Low Paying Jobs!"
..or perhaps..
"Nevada is a wonderful wasteland. Let's keep it that way!"
..or maybe..
"Gambling is fun! Let's all gamble on the jobs of Nevadans!"
Bye, bye, Harry.
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