Trump administration makes move to look elsewhere for nuke waste dump 

The Nevada Commission on Nuclear Projects is hoping federal efforts to find states willing to host sites that can handle the full nuclear lifecycle will steer nuclear waste storage away from Nevada.

Last week, the U.S. Department of Energy announced it is seeking states interested in housing regional hubs that could support several parts of the nuclear fuel cycle. That includes fuel fabrication, enrichment, reprocessing used nuclear fuel, and nuclear waste storage.

The “Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campuses” is the first step towards potentially establishing Federal-State partnerships centered on building an end-to-end nuclear energy strategy for the country, said the DOE. 

“Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campuses give us the opportunity to work directly with states on regional priorities that support President Trump’s vision to revitalize America’s nuclear base,” said U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright in a statement announcing the search.

The Trump administration wants to quadruple America’s production of nuclear power over the next 25 years, and a permanent repository for the radioactive waste created by nuclear plants will be needed to achieve that goal.

The Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 requires the Energy Department to build a deep geologic repository for the disposal of high-level radioactive waste. It was later amended to direct the agency to primarily consider Nevada’s Yucca Mountain, located about 100 miles northwest of Las Vegas. 

While the law allows governors to veto proposed storage sites, Congress has the power to overturn that veto—which is what happened with Nevada in 2002. A new permanent site would require a change in the law.

The Nevada Commission on Nuclear Projects, was created in the 1980s, to advise state lawmakers on matters related to radioactive waste and nuclear activities.

Richard Bryan, the chairman of the Nevada Commission on Nuclear Projects, said “Nevada views this as further acknowledgement that the Yucca Mountain site is not a viable option for the long-term disposal of the nation’s high-level nuclear waste.”

Nevada leaders have long opposed making Nevada the permanent home of the nation’s nuclear waste, arguing that geological instability, water contamination threats, and proximity to a major population hub would make Yucca Mountain a poor choice. 

Despite strong opposition, the U.S. government spent at least $15 billion on developing Yucca Mountain as a nuclear waste repository over several administrations, according to the Government Accountability Office.

In a statement, Bryan said he believes the initiative announced by the DOE Monday is the first step in “identifying alternative locations that start with state buy-in.”

“We applaud President Trump and his administration for listening to the voices of Nevadans and prioritizing public health and environmental protection over outdated mandates,” said Bryan, who also formally served as a U.S. Senator and governor of Nevada. 

Bryan continued, “This is a victory for common sense. However, the work is far from over. Our nation’s nuclear waste management system must learn from its past failures and leaders in Congress should swiftly pass legislation to ensure all states are able to fairly participate in a transparent site selection process that incorporates input from affected states, tribes, and stakeholders. A fresh start is essential to safely and responsibly manage our nuclear legacy.”