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Energy > Nuclear Waste > Flashcards

Nuclear Waste Flashcards

1
Q

What is nuclear waste? Is it useless? (3)

A
  1. Nuclear waste is called “spent or used nuclear fuel” by those in the industry
  2. Can be reprocessed - can be re-utilized in various ways (c.f., France)
  3. Vitrification - alternative means to stabilize the radioactivity
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2
Q

What is the difference between low-level & high-level nuclear waste?

A
  1. Low-level - heavily regulated but widespread (X-Rays, TSA); accepted in NV, TX, WA, SC
  2. High-level nuclear - NPP rods, highly radioactive; only generated by civilian activities (military has diff track); main focus of Nuclear Waste Policy Act
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3
Q

How is spent nuclear fuel regulated? (3)

A
  1. Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982
  2. NEPA
  3. Price-Anderson Act
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4
Q

Explain how Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 works in theory (5)

A
  1. Commercial operator will pay 0.1c/kwH generated into Nuclear Waste Fund
  2. The National Repository – the fund will be used to generate this to contain waste by storing it deep underground and will be geologically contained
  3. Timeframe – DOE takes title in 1998 – operators contracted w/ DOE in exchange for 1.
  4. Utilities keep waste onsite until the DOE takes the waste***

Assumption: we would have solutions 20-30 years later for spent nuclear fuel when the plants were first designed with the pool as a temporary mechanism

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5
Q

Explain how Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 works in practice (Yucca Mountain)

A

Yucca chosen as a Repository by amending NWPA in 1987
* L spent $10B –> litigation
* Licensing process: site analysis, characterization, DOE operates site & submits application in NRC
* Clinton slow-walks
* GWB wants licensed by end of term –> DOE submits 8k page license to NRC
* Obama: (1) defunds NRC to review DOE application (2) DOE director withdraws application (asks w/ prejudice) (3) new NRC commissioner (NV friend) (4) fires Yucca employees & lease

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6
Q

What were the legal implications of the Yucca Mountain NRC application withdrawal?

A
  1. NWPA statute - NRC shall decide in 3 years
  2. DC Cir (Kavanaugh) ultimately says NRC may must meet its stattutory duty
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7
Q

What is the status of spent nuclear fuel policy in the US in practice? (5)

A
  1. Yucca Mountain debacle
  2. Full cooling pools - Δ regs to fit more rods
  3. On-site dry cask storage - only solution
  4. Mounting DOE liability
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8
Q

What is the status of the Nuclear Waste Fund in the US? (2)

A
  1. When Yucca seemed unlikely, utilities sued to not pay into the Fund
  2. DC Cir. agreed. Utilities may suspend the payments
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9
Q

What is the status of spent nuclear fuel storage in the US?

A
  1. Since cooling pools are filled up, utilities use dry cak storage after 10 years
  2. Casks are safe & secure, but expensive and not transportable
  3. DOE sued utilities for failing to mitigate cost of their breach (not taking title)
  4. Now, DC Cir. is addresing this problem
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10
Q

What are the DOE liabilities w/r/t spent nuclear fuel? (3)

A
  1. Waste volume is more than Yucca capacity; Yucca is FAR from where spent rods are currently stored
  2. Not taking title year after year
  3. Litigation over whether utilities mitigated damages properly by using dry casks
    * Need to pay for dry casks otherwise
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11
Q

What is the best alternative for spent fuels? (3)

A
  • Reprocessing it down to 1/20 in volume
  • But, non-proliferation agreement prevents re-enriching it
  • But, cost may be prohibitive - more than getting fresh uranium
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12
Q

Explain how NEPA regulates spent nuclear fuel (5)

A

Waste Confidence Decision
* NRC - promulgated single EIS (1984) for all the waste for all NPPs through N&C rulemaking
* Ground 1 - Yucca Mt will be done by 2008 or 2009
* Ground 2 - By 2025
* Ground 3 - no date (Obama - 2048)
* Anti-nukes - need new EIS since Yucca is not complete

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13
Q

Explain how the Price-Anderson Act regulates nuclear energy (2)

A
  1. Requires NPPs to have $500M insurance & be on the hook for $700M total for nuclear accident liability
  2. Clear example of negative externality MF - operator unlikely to be properly incentivized to mitigate against potential consequences - cost is borne by society at large
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14
Q

Explain TX v. NRC (3)

A
  1. NWPA text only allows “plant operators” to have interim storage of spent fuels
  2. Interim waste facilities - typically at another NPP but still requires another license & new transportation system even at close distance
  3. Statutory interpretation - 5th Cir. & TX wants restrictive reading, but NRC wants flexible reading
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15
Q
A

takeaway from Skull Valley plan?
- state sovereignty vs. tribal control over land use?

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