Long-Term Geologic Storage of Spent Fuel

Spent nuclear fuel can be disposed of safely in deep geological formations. In fact, technology exists sufficient to provide assurance that permanent high-level waste disposal is feasible. Opponents to nuclear power argue that future nuclear plant operation should be curtailed until a high-level waste disposal facility is in operation. This ignores the fact that more than eighty million gallons of separated high-level wastes already exist from the nuclear weapons program and must be placed in safe, permanent geologic storage. Some groups that are trying to block experiments and demonstrations of geologic disposal seem satisfied that spent fuel could be disposed of in a similar manner. Demonstration of nuclear waste disposal in the near future is essential to public acceptance of nuclear power.