2008/11/17-Comment (3) of Stephen Young on Waste Confidence Decision Update and Consideration of Environmental Impacts of Temporary Storage of Spent Fuel After Cessation of Reactor Operation

I am opposed to the licensing of reactors until wastes can and will be disposed of safely. A 30 year temporary period for disposal is unacceptable, and I give one example as to the failure of this thinking, "Hanford". Storage has resulted in contamination of the water table and Columbia River. Because there will be a new administration taking office in January, no decision of this magnitude should be made, and I expect there will be a completely different approach to energy independence in the new administration. This is an unsafe modification solely being pushed now to ensure the industry of licenses to build new reactors before the President Elect can have his say. We do not need reactors until there is a permanent and 100% safe way to store radioactive waste. The NRC should continue to take a position of suspending the licensing of reactors if it does not have confidence beyond a reasonable doubt that wastes can and will be disposed of safely. Thank you, Stephen Young