Back to OurEnergyLibrary search




High-Level Nuclear Waste Redefined

High-Level Nuclear Waste Redefined

Full Title: High-Level Nuclear Waste Redefined
Author(s): James Conca
Publisher(s): American Nuclear Society
Publication Date: June 1, 2014
Full Text: Download Resource
Description (excerpt):

What is high-level nuclear waste? It depends upon where you look to find the language. Most statutes and discussions use a relic of the old source-based HLW definition established by the Atomic Energy Commission over 40 years ago which introduces confusion when applying more recent legislation. For example, under current policy, wastes emanating from the reprocessing of irradiated and/or spent nuclear fuel are presumed to be HLW unless formally demonstrated to not be HLW using either:

• Section 3116 of the Ronald W. Reagan National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005 (NDAA)

• One of the DOE Order 435.1 Waste Incidental to Reprocessing (WIR) processes (evaluation or citation)

All statements and/or propositions in discussion prompts are meant exclusively to stimulate discussion and do not represent the views of OurEnergyPolicy.org, its Partners, Topic Directors or Experts, nor of any individual or organization. Comments by and opinions of Expert participants are their own.

Sign up for our Press Release Distribution List

    Your Name (required)

    Your Email (required)

    Please sign me up to receive press releases from OurEnergyPolicy.org.