ABSTRACT
It is important to note that the problem of what to do with radioactive waste piling
up at reactor sites is not unique to the United States. The issue of how best to
properly dispose of highly radioactive waste is an international concern of growing
importance. Commercial nuclear energy reactors across the globe (especially Europe)
are generating substantial quantities of spent nuclear fuel. Today, there are over 440
nuclear power plants operating in 31 countries and global nuclear power generation
accounts for approximately 16 percent of the world’s electricity production. (IAEA,
2006: 1) Moreover, nuclear power production is expected to increase significantly
over the next 25 years as more power plants come on-line in both industrialized
countries and the developing world. Thus, the amount of highly radioactive waste
generated will significantly increase in the coming years.
