1. Augustus Merwin Presented to the National Security Forum 3-26-15
Reprocessing Used Nuclear Fuel A technological overview & proposal for Yucca Mountain
Augustus Merwin
Presented to the National Security Forum

2. There is NO “Waste”
Waste is a chemistry term for a product that has been burned to completion
Used Nuclear Fuel (UNF) has 1,000,000 times the energy density of gasoline

3. What is Used Nuclear Fuel?
japanfocus.org

4. Plutonium
Currently there are ~77,000 tons of UNF in the US containing ~770 tons of Pu
That is 8 times the US defense stockpile of Pu
This quantity of material is sufficient to produce 4x107 MWdays of electricity
That is enough energy to power 100% of the US for more than 100 years!

5. Reprocessing & Recycling
Wiki.uiowa.edu

6. Benefits of R&R Reduce the quantity of material by 97%
The remaining material is safe within 300 years
We can confidently design a repository to house 2,000 tons of UNF that will last 300 years
This would settle even Harry Reid’s fears

7. The Old Problem with Reprocessing
Reprocessing technology is fundamentally linked to nuclear weapons technology
India detonated the “Smiling Buddha” in 1974 using Pu isolated using PUREX reprocessing
President Carter banned reprocessing as a result
President Reagan reversed the ban, but the psychological damage was done

8. A Global Prospective
The US has lost global superiority in nuclear technology
The French corporation Areva is the contractor responsible for all reprocessing facilities world wide
EVEN THE US PROGRAM!
France, Russia, Japan, and S. Korea make up the modern nuclear export countries
All of this is based on US technology

9. Proliferation and the US Fuel Cycle
There are 435 nuclear reactors in 31 countries
More than 35 countries have the nuclear know how necessary to build a bomb
How much difference does the US fuel cycle make?
bbc.co.uk

10. Defense Materials
The US / Russia PMDA states that each country will dispose of 34 tons of Pu using MOX fuel
To date none of this material has been disposed of
The US MOX project is $3 billion over budget and years behind schedule
This project is necessary to convert Pu metal into a form that is usable in current reactors

11. The IFR Program
The Integral Fast Reactor Program was initiated to develop an advanced nuclear fuel cycle that was…
Proliferation resistant
Inherently safe
Cost effective
Scalable
anl.gov

12. Success using EBR II
All of these goals were achieved!
inl.gov

13. Pyroprocessing
if.uidaho.edu

14. The Difference PUREX Pyroprocessing Aqueous Isolates Pu
Consumes ZERO water
Collects Pu with minor actinides

15. A Proposal for Nevada Take ownership of the UNF stockpile
Develop a state trust as due compensation
Use Yucca as an interim storage facility
Build a pyroprocessing plant and burner reactor
Sell the “carbon free” electricity to California for pure profit

16. The Nuclear Waste Fund
The NWF has accumulated $41 billion specifically allocated to the disposition of UNF
A pyroprocessing facility and reactor would cost significantly less than this sum

17. Benefits for the Nation
Consolidate the UNF to a single secure location
Negate the need for the MOX plant
Fulfill 30 year old agreements with the nuclear industry
Re-emerge as the world leader in advanced nuclear technology

18. Benefits for Nevada Create thousands of construction jobs
Establish a state trust and give federal money to Nevadans
Bring federal money into our schools & universities
Make Nevada the world leader in nuclear technology