Disposition of spent nuclear fuel using the modular helium reactor

Unprocessed light water reactor (LWR) spent fuel may prove to be an unacceptable waste form for permanent geologic disposal because of serious technical and programmatic issues related to long-term proliferation risks and safeguards requirements, to long-term containment of radionuclides, and to underground criticality. An alternative strategy using Modular Helium Reactors (MHRs) and coated-particle fuel technology would deal effectively with these issues, while generating significant revenues from the sale of electricity and demonstrating a meltdown-proof, advanced reactor design for future energy needs. This paper was submitted as a comment to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for determining the scope and content of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed Yucca Mountain geologic repository.