Public confidence needed: For successful low-level waste manauemanl

Gregory B. Jaczko, commissioner with the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission, has highlighted a need for an open debate for the generation, management, and disposal of low-level nuclear waste that is acceptable to the public. Jaczko emphasized on involving the affected communities in the decisions being made while updating an analysis to use more modern and improved techniques and tools. Conversations with people living near decommissioning sites and those living near potential disposal sites is also necessary. It is also highlighted that the idea behind the waste blending proposal is that a small quantity of more radioactive material can be obtained with a large quantity of less hazardous material and the resulting material would be overall less hazardous in concentration. Jaczko reiterated that the NRC staff has sent a paper to the commission along with a technical analysis regarding alternatives for addressing depleted uranium.