A HISTORICAL LOOK AT REPROCESSJNG-THE PRACTICES DECISION POINT!J AND THEIR EFFECTS ON NON-PROLIFEIMTION AND OTHER PARTS OF THE NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE

A historical look at reprocessing practices, the technical and political decision points and how these effected the non-prolifation practices of the U. S. and other countries, and other parts of the nuclear fiwl cycle is presented. Repmess@ technology was baaed on technology developed under the U. S. govermnen t’a defm progmms. The decision of the U. S. not to reprocess, while many other countries continue to do so has lead to quite different approaches to high level waste handling and also effketed some unexpected parts of the thel cycle. The arguments on whether this decision was helpfid or detrimental to non-prolifemtion and its economic effkcts are presented. It still must be determined whether permanent storage of spent tbel or reprocessing and storing the resultant vitrified waste is the best solution, It is very debatable that a reprocessing ban is effective in stopping prolifmation.