Timely Topics on Spent Fuel Storage

I'm very pleased to discuss with you a matter of crucial importance to our nation — the storage of spent nuclear fuel from our commercial power reactors. I'm talking not only about spent fuel storage at operating reactors, but also at plants in permanent or extended shutdown. In addressing this issue, I'm hoping to correct numerous current misimpressions some may have about the view the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission [NRC] has on the relative safety of pool and dry long-term storage for older fuel. Both pool storage and dry storage are safe technologies. But there are significant differences. Pool storage requires a greater and more consistent operational vigilance and the satisfactory performance of a larger number of active systems, while dry storage is almost passive.