Nuclear Lab Director Says Spent-Fuel Impasse Harms Mission

摘要

The biggest threat to the nation's primary lab for nuclear research is a prohibition from bringing in small quantities of spent nuclear fuel for research, the lab's director said. Mark Peters told members of the House Environment, Energy and Technology Committee that the situation could cause some to question the Idaho National Laboratory's status as the nation's lead nuclear energy laboratory. "If you're the lead nuclear energy laboratory and you can't bring in small amounts of material to do research, then why are you the lead nuclear energy laboratory?" Peters said. Idaho officials are blocking the spent nuclear fuel because the U.S. Department of Energy has missed deadlines required in a 1995 agreement to clean up nuclear waste at its 890-square-mile sprawling site west of the city of Idaho Falls. Penalties for missing the deadlines include fines and preventing spent fuel from entering the state.