Nuclear watchdogs urge NRC’s study on nuclear waste to include key safety concerns

A coalition of nuclear watchdog groups and environmental organizations filed comments today with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, urging it to more thoroughly study storage of nuclear waste. The groups say the NRC’s decision to shorten the study period to less than two years from up to seven isn’t enough time to adequately assess spent fuel storage risks Nuclear waste remains highly radioactive for many years and poses contamination risks to public health and the environment.

The NRC is required by law to issue an Environmental Impact Statement on long-term storage. Speaking on a telephone call to reporters today, Dr. Arjun Makhijani, president of the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research, said that the nuclear industry’s trade group, the Nuclear Energy Institute had pushed for the shorter process, despite concerns.

“In my opinion it is very likely that it will take ten years or more to produce the data and then to do the analysis. So two years simply doesn’t allow the data to be gathered because the data simply doesn’t exist on some of the most essential points.”

Joining us now to discuss today’s filing is Diane Curran, an environmental attorney who represents the watchdog groups. She joins us from Washington, DC.