First nuclear age Nuclear energy policy of the United States

1 first nuclear age

1.1 energy reorganization act of 1974 , nrc governing laws
1.2 reorganization plans
1.3 nuclear non-proliferation act of 1978
1.4 uranium mill tailings radiation control act of 1978
1.5 nuclear waste policy act of 1982, amended
1.6 low-level radioactive waste policy amendments act of 1985
1.7 energy policy act of 1992

first nuclear age

there 2 phases in u.s. nuclear policy. first phase lasted approximately 1954 1992. end of 1980s, new plants being built, , after 1992, there period of 13 years without substantial nuclear legislation. united states not first nation create nuclear power plant. both russia , england managed establish small, limited power plants before u.s. although developments taking place in u.s. private sector before 1954 act, not until mid-1956 shippingport atomic power station in pennsylvania came online. facility, generated 50 mw of power per year, , later 200 mw, first full-scale nuclear power plant in u.s. , world. in coming years, more , more plants built regulated utility companies, state-based. these companies put capital cost rate base , amortize against power sales. consumers bore risk , paid capital cost.

some nuclear experts began voice dissenting views nuclear power in 1969. these scientists included ernest sternglass pittsburg, henry kendall massachusetts institute of technology, nobel laureate george wald , radiation specialist rosalie bertell. these members of scientific community expressing concern on nuclear power, played crucial role in demystifying issue other citizens , , nuclear power became issue of major public protest in 1970s.

energy reorganization act of 1974 , nrc governing laws

the nuclear regulatory commission established under energy reorganization act of 1974. under atomic energy act of 1954, single agency, atomic energy commission, had responsibility development , production of nuclear weapons development , safety regulation of civilian uses of nuclear materials. act of 1974 split these functions, assigning 1 new agency, department of energy, responsibility development , production of nuclear weapons, promotion of nuclear power, , other energy-related work. regulatory work, excluding regulation of defense nuclear facilities, assigned nrc. act of 1974 gave nrc collegial structure , established major offices. later amendment act provided protections employees raise nuclear safety concerns. applications new plants filed nrc , take between 3 , 5 years approved. require detailed reports on reactor operations, transportation of fuels, enrichment, waste storage, mining of yellow cake, , more. moreover, government promises provide incentives building new plants through loan guarantees , tax credits, backs loans or direct funding building, , conducts atomic research further field.

the epa directed set standards radioactive materials under reorganization plan no. 3


reorganization plans

reorganization plan no. 3 executive order president richard nixon in 1970, created u.s. environmental protection agency (epa). plan directed epa establish applicable environmental standards protection of general environment radioactive material. reorganization plan no. 1 of 1980 strengthened executive , administrative roles of nrc chairman, particularly in emergencies, transferring chairman functions vested in commission pertaining emergency concerning particular facility or materials ... regulated commission. reorganization plan provided policy formulation, policy-related rulemaking, , orders , adjudications remain vested full commission.

nuclear non-proliferation act of 1978

the nuclear non-proliferation act of 1978 sought limit spread of nuclear weapons. among other things, established criteria governing u.s. nuclear exports licensed nrc , took steps strengthen international safeguards system. helped ensure security of united states. countries signed international nuclear non-proliferation treaty (npt) committed prevent spread of nuclear weapons in return u.s. knowledge , materials in form of nuclear reactors , fuel.

in addition supplying countries nuclear technology , materials, u.s. aid countries in effort identify domestic sources of alternative energy, consistent economic , material resources, , in compliance environmental standards within country. in way, u.s. sought ensure control on information, technology, , materials relevant nuclear activities.

the nuclear non-proliferation act amended atomic energy act of 1946 establishing new criteria governing u.s. nuclear exports licensed nrc. congress directed doe initiate , plan design, construction, , operation activities expansion of uranium enrichment capacity, sufficient domestic , foreign needs. act specified nuclear non-proliferation controls not expire annually, eliminating need extensions.

uranium mill tailings radiation control act of 1978


a nuclear waste container coming out of department of energy run nevada national security site on public roads traveling unknown final location, march 2010 (photographer bill ebbesen))

the uranium mill tailings radiation control act of 1978 (umtrca) designed establish programs stabilization , control of mill tailings of uranium or thorium mill sites, both active , inactive, in order prevent or minimize, among other things, diffusion of radon environment. title ii of act gives nrc regulatory , licensing authority on mill tailing @ sites under nrc license on or after january 1, 1978.

this gave doe responsibility of stabilizing, disposing, , controlling uranium mill tailings , other contaminated material @ twenty-four uranium mill processing sites located across ten states , @ approximately 5,200 associated properties.

in 1950s , 1960s, private firms processed uranium ore mined in united states. after uranium mining came under federal control, companies abandoned mill operations, leaving behind materials potential long-term health hazards. these mills contained low-level radioactive wastes , other hazardous substances migrated surrounding soil, groundwater, surface water, , emitted radon gas.

under act, doe established uranium mill tailings remedial action (umtra) project monitor cleanup of uranium mill tailings. umtrca gave nrc regulatory authority on cleanup , licensing of mill tailing facilities @ sites under nrc license. epa had task of developing cleanup strategies , recording standards mills. umtra used on-site disposal methods eleven of mills, while excavating , disposing of wastes found @ remaining thirteen sites remote off-site disposal locations owned doe.

nuclear waste policy act of 1982, amended

nevada , california highway patrol officers conduct radiological surveys , mechanical inspections on first nevada test site transuranic waste shipment @ area 5 radioactive waste management complex located on nevada test site. shipment destined waste isolation pilot plant located near carlsbad, new mexico on january 4, 2004.



a waste removal project @ former fort greely nuclear power plant. seen here, workers attempted remove 1500 cubic yards of soil contaminated extremely low levels of nuclear waste



the current locations across u.s. nuclear waste stored



the united states planned store nuclear waste @ south portal of yucca mountain facility.

the nuclear waste policy act of 1982 established both federal government’s responsibility provide place permanent disposal of high-level radioactive waste , spent nuclear fuel, , generators responsibility bear costs of permanent disposal. act provides extensive state, tribal, , public participation in planning , development of permanent repositories. amendments act focused federal government s efforts, through doe, on studying possible site @ yucca mountain, nevada, project canceled in 2009. without long-term solution store nuclear waste, nuclear renaissance in u.s. remains unlikely. 9 states have explicit moratoria on new nuclear power until storage solution emerges .

low-level radioactive waste policy amendments act of 1985

the low-level radioactive waste policy amendments act of 1985 gives states responsibility dispose of low-level radioactive waste generated within borders , allows them form compacts locate facilities serve group of states. act provides facilities regulated nrc or states have entered agreements nrc under section 274 of atomic energy act. act requires nrc establish standards determining when radionuclides present in waste streams in sufficiently low concentrations or quantities below regulatory concern.

energy policy act of 1992

the energy policy act of 1992 had provision under section 801, directed epa promulgate radiation protection standards yucca mountain nuclear waste repository in nevada. yucca mountain site designated federal government serve permanent disposal site used nuclear fuel , other radioactive materials commercial nuclear power plants , u.s. department of defense activities. costs project have reached $13.5 billion expected 25-year program. however, in 2009, president barack obama fulfilled campaign promise end shipping of nuclear waste site. after this, u.s. senate , house of representatives passed legislation obama s decision, although site still active , being funded government ($196.8 million in federal budget). although obama has asked nrc devise long-term solution waste storage of spent fuel rods nuclear reactors, yet, none have been proposed, , radioactive waste still being stored on-site @ nuclear power plants.

currently, there still many remaining concerns storage of nuclear waste should stored or if central location required. on may 24, 2011, institute policy studies came out new report ranking various spent fuel sites , contending spent nuclear reactor fuel needs moved en masse safer dry cask storage rather current liquid pool system. however, harry reid brushed aside such remarks contention transport central site increases risks. leave on-site is, said last year. don t have worry transporting it. saves country billions , billions of dollars. currently, congress nor nrc or doe have established fixed plan nuclear waste , still being stored on site @ each nuclear facility.