Radioactive waste depository

Another major safety concern is waste disposal. Today, there is no safe nuclear waste depository anywhere on the planet. Therefore, used fuel rods are stored locally near each plant in steel casks. These casks can be destroyed by conventional weapons and if that happens, they can release radioactive gases. 

Very large quantities of radioactive waste materials are stored at various sites throughout the world.24 The permanent disposal of these wastes involves dividing the material into two parts for treatment. The high-level radioactive species will be absorbed in porous solids and transported to depositories in salt mines or within mountains.25... 

One of the primary waste disposal problems of the world is that of radioactive materials. At present, the U.S. nuclear wastes are stored in solution at Hanford, Washington, and Savannah River, Georgia. These wastes are divided into two types of materials. The high-level radioactive waste are absorbed into porous solids and transported to permanent depositories within mountains. 

Another waste depository, under Yucca Mountain in Nevada, is being contemplated. For nearly two decades, this area has been studied to determine its suitability for storage of high-level radioactive wastes. At present it looks to be a long time before this issue is settled. 

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