Abstract :
Unprocessed light water reactor (LWR) spent fuel may prove to be an unacceptable waste form for permanent geologic disposal because of serious technical and programmatic issues related to long-term proliferation risks and safeguards requirements, to long-term containment of radionuclides, and to underground criticality. An alternative strategy using Modular Helium Reactors (MHRs) and coated-particle fuel technology would deal effectively with these issues, while generating significant revenues from the sale of electricity and demonstrating a meltdown-proof, advanced reactor design for future energy needs. This paper was submitted as a comment to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for determining the scope and content of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed Yucca Mountain geologic repository.
