ABSTRACT
To date, the radioactive waste debate generally has revolved around either the
construction of a centralized permanent national repository at Yucca Mountain,
Nevada; or, to a lesser extent, the proposed construction of an interim storage site
(e.g., Skull Valley, Utah, or Owl Creek, Wyoming). However, more recently the
focus of opposition has shifted to the transport of the highly radioactive waste to any
potential centralized facility. Concerns over the safety and security of transporting
large amounts of highly radioactive waste over long distances, sometimes through
heavily populated areas, have sparked significant opposition to any potential
transportation plan. In fact, opponents of any disposal or storage option now view
the transportation issue as the next line of defense against building and licensing any
proposed centralized facility.
