Nuclear Nonproliferation: The Spent Fuel Problem

Examine the debate concerning the storage of spent fuel generated by nuclear reactors and its implications for nuclear nonproliferation efforts. Potential barriers to the establishment or expansion of national storage facilities for spent fuel are discussed, along with alternatives.

This book covers a broad spectrum of possible multinational and international arrangements for spent fuel management, ranging from relatively benign international oversight of national facilities to arrangements for bilateral and regional cooperation, and even the creation of entirely new international institutional mechanisms.

The technical, economic, political, and legal aspects of managing spent fuel are explored, paying particular attention to Eastern Europe, Western Europe, the Indian Ocean Basin, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America. Public attitudes toward nuclear energy, especially with regard to the issue of radioactive waste disposal, are also considered.

The final chapter looks at the political aspects of nuclear nonproliferation in general and of spent fuel management in particular.

This monograph will be of interest to government officials and policymakers concerned with nuclear energy and nonproliferation.