ABSTRACT
The interactions of the geological sciences with nuclear energy power development have been continuous since the first uranium fuel supplies were sought but they have intensified at an even faster pace than the growth of the remarkable energy source. From the initial experiments in power production 30 years ago, the nuclear electric power industry has grown to comprise about 65 active light water reactors which produced about 12 percent of the electricity generated in 1977. National planners in many other leading industrialized countries have committed their economies to nuclear power generation as a major replacement system for fossil fuels. The geological sciences have been requested to provide a broad variety of inputs to the operating nuclear industry, to national planners and to the public forums considering nuclear energy policies. The Energy Research and Development Administration initiated the National Uranium Resource Evaluation program in 1974 to achieve a more effective assessment of the national uranium potential.
