The Article: http://physicsworld.com/cws/article/news/2014/nov/17/review-breathes-life-into-yucca-mountain-nuclear-waste-site
Summary:
The government is currently debating the use of a facility known as Yucca Mountain to house dangerous nuclear waste. This site was originally chosen to house nuclear waste in 1986. The site is located about 150 km north of Las Vegas, Nevada. The site is designed to be able to contain nuclear waste for 10,000 years after it was first sealed. Those against the use of the facility argue that the mountain should be able to contain waste for hundreds of thousands of years.
My Opinion:
The use of this facility will offer a safe place for nuclear waste for many years to come, however the close proximity of the site to such a large city presents a very real danger. Any problems or failures to contain the waste will result in endangering an extremely large number of lives. If nuclear waste manages to leach into the groundwater there will be millions of civilian casualties to radiation sickness. In addition to the risk once the nuclear waste is stored, there is also the risk of transporting the nuclear waste to the facility. Any problems that occur while transporting the materials will result in the endangerment of countless lives. Although there are many risks involved in using the facility there are also some great benefits. By storing the nuclear waste in this mountain there is a decrease in the risk of the waste being targeted by possible terrorist attacks. The facility will limit the devastation of leak to only one isolated location. If it is possible to transport the nuclear waste safely the facility could serve as a great benefit and resource for storing nuclear waste.
Summary:
The government is currently debating the use of a facility known as Yucca Mountain to house dangerous nuclear waste. This site was originally chosen to house nuclear waste in 1986. The site is located about 150 km north of Las Vegas, Nevada. The site is designed to be able to contain nuclear waste for 10,000 years after it was first sealed. Those against the use of the facility argue that the mountain should be able to contain waste for hundreds of thousands of years.
My Opinion:
The use of this facility will offer a safe place for nuclear waste for many years to come, however the close proximity of the site to such a large city presents a very real danger. Any problems or failures to contain the waste will result in endangering an extremely large number of lives. If nuclear waste manages to leach into the groundwater there will be millions of civilian casualties to radiation sickness. In addition to the risk once the nuclear waste is stored, there is also the risk of transporting the nuclear waste to the facility. Any problems that occur while transporting the materials will result in the endangerment of countless lives. Although there are many risks involved in using the facility there are also some great benefits. By storing the nuclear waste in this mountain there is a decrease in the risk of the waste being targeted by possible terrorist attacks. The facility will limit the devastation of leak to only one isolated location. If it is possible to transport the nuclear waste safely the facility could serve as a great benefit and resource for storing nuclear waste.
