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On the planet where I live, good political
solutions are those that gain public acceptance. This is true regardless
of scientific merit, economic effect, or actual (as opposed to perceived)
impact on health and safety. Unfortunately, the vast majority of the public is
scientifically ignorant. IMHO, politicians, bureaucrats, and contractors
working on nuclear waste have shamelessly exploited this ignorance to
advance their own self interests. As I previously suggested, if organizations
such as Greenpeace, and Friends or the Earth did not exist, the DoE and EPA
would have had to invent them.
With the exception of transmutation and space
disposal, any of the multitude of waste management schemes that have been
proposed should have been acceptable from a public health standpoint.
Even the ridiculously expensive Yucca Mtn. Project would be OK. However, the
billions of dollars made available for studying the problem provide a strong
disincentive for reaching a solution. Nobody wants to kill the goose that lays
the golden eggs.
I am sorry if these views seem
skeptical, but I really believe they accurately characterize the current
situation. For whatever it's worth, if health, safety, and
economics were the primary concerns, ocean disposal is still the best
solution ( see Bernie Cohen's paper in Nuclear Technology 17:163-172). On the
other hand, if we need a solution that is absolutely perfect in every way, I
guess we will just have to keep on looking. At least, as long as the money
continues to roll in.
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