Jeremy L. Dillon
RW Monitor
3/21/2014
A group of scientists from the Sustainable Fuel Cycle Task Force called on Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz this week to take a more active role in the handling of the nation’s radioactive waste. The group expressed its concerns in a letter to Moniz following the release of DOE’s Fiscal Year 2015 budget request, which the group said lacked any significant request to move forward with a plan dealing with the nation’s high-level waste. “After a review of the Administration’s Fiscal Year 2015 budget request we are thoroughly disappointed in what appears to be a complete abrogation of responsibility and no action to do anything other than wait for others,” the letter said. “DOE was decisive in terminating Yucca Mountain weeks before the 2010 election, but has done virtually nothing since except vague studies and a January 2013 Strategy Report that is now unsupportable.”
The group of scientists also offered two possible solutions to the malaise. “This inaction is irresponsible behavior, and we urge you to correct it without delay by either (a) create meaningful legislative proposals to change the NWPA law or (b) following existing Nuclear Waste Policy Act (NWPA) law and restore Yucca Mountain,” their letter said. “Sitting back without meaningful DOE leadership, when the need for a solution is ever growing, is not fair to future generations and is incompatible with the President’s “all of the above” national energy policy, which you have endorsed.”
DOE’s fiscal year 2015 budget request, submitted to Congress earlier this month, did not ask for any appropriations to begin work on an active solution to the nation’s nuclear waste, although it does outline some research and development programs that will aid in implementing its strategy going forward. The request also includes a proposal to implement a reform to the Nuclear Waste Fund that would enable access to the fund to pay for activities related to a pilot interim storage facility program. DOE did return calls for comment this week.
