DOE EXAMINING ISSUE OF CO-MINGLING DEFENSE AND COMMERCIAL NUCLEAR WASTE

The Department of Energy has begun a study on whether it should continue plans to co-mingle defense nuclear waste with commercial used fuel for long-term storage and disposal, which it plans to finish this fall. Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz said yesterday at a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing that it is worth revisiting the prior decision. “Much of the defense waste came from so-called low burn-up activity versus the higher burn-ups in commercial fuel. So I think the issue is to study this,” he said. “We have launched that study, and hopefully sometime this fall we’ll be able to come back with how we balance the various factors.” The study follows up on a commitment from Moniz during his confirmation hearing in April, when he said examining the co-mingling issue will be a priority for him.