Spent Nuclear Fuel a Growing Concern, GAO Reports
Since the proposed Yucca Mountain National Nuclear Waste Repository in Nevada became a memory in 2009, America's commercial nuclear reactors have accumulated nearly 70,000 metric tons of radioactive nuclear waste. Sooner-than-later, the lack of a place to dispose of it will become a real problem, says the Government Accountability Office (GAO).

As the GAO states in its report to Congress, spent nuclear fuel is "one of the most hazardous substances created by humans." And with no permanent disposal site on the federal drawing board, all 70,000 tons of it remains stored at reactor sites in 33 states. About 74% is simply stored in pools of water, while only 26% has been transferred to slightly more secure dry storage casks.

Worse yet, reports the GAO, if a new permanent nuclear waste disposal site were approved today, it would be at least 40 years before the facility could begin accepting shipments. During that time, the amount of spent nuclear fuel would at least double to over 140,000 tons, according to the GAO.
[link to usgovinfo.about.com]