February 2009

Key Points

• The resurgence of nuclear energy has led to a reassessment of the nation’s long-term used fuel management program, including renewed interest in nuclear fuel recycling and advanced nuclear fuel-cycle technologies. These technologies include advanced reprocessing of used nuclear fuel, advanced fuel fabrication and development of new reactor designs that could further minimize byproducts of the uranium fuel cycle. These technologies, taken together, could reduce the volume, heat and radiotoxicity of nuclear waste byproducts requiring disposal, while recycling up to 95 percent of the used fuel that is being stored for disposal.
• The federal government and industry should pursue research into advanced recycling and reactor technologies as well as development of existing technologies. However, this should not delay the U.S. Department of Energy’s used nuclear fuel repository project at Yucca Mountain, Nev. No advanced technology will preclude the need for a federal repository.
• In the interim period, storage of used fuel at volunteer locations would enable movement of used fuel from operating and decommissioned nuclear power plants before recycling facilities are available.
• A key driver behind development of advanced fuel-cycle technologies is the nuclear energy sector’s expected growth in the United States and around the world. Any decision to pursue advanced fuel cycles in the United States must consider the economic challenges and nonproliferation considerations associated with recycling uranium fuel.
• The nuclear energy industry supports continued funding of DOE’s Advanced Fuel Cycle Initiative. The mission of the initiative is to develop fuel-cycle technologies that will meet the need for economic and sustained nuclear energy production while satisfying requirements for a controlled nuclear materials management system.

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