America's high‐level nuclear waste repository: a case study of environmental science and public policy

Abstract

The disposal of high‐level commercial nuclear wastes, the so‐called spent fuel, is one of the most politically and ethically complex environmental issues. A series of actions taken over past decades has resulted in plans to dispose of spent fuels in geologic repositories. This decision has ignited numerous controversies, especially concerning where the repositories should be located. This siting controversy has been “settled” for the time being by a federal law that designates Yucca Mountain in southern Nevada as the preferred location. However, the decision: (a) is inconsistent with the National Environmental Act as a comprehensive policy act, (b) does not reflect full consideration of value‐laden public policy issues, and (c) adds to credibility problems confronting the US Department of Energy and therefore contributes to controversies surrounding the agency's decisions. Aspects of how this decision came about and how it is being implemented provide an interesting case study of how our society is presently dealing with scientifically, politically, and ethically complex technological problems.

Key words:

• Nuclear waste
• nuclear energy
• public policy
• environmental impacts
• America