The Road to Yucca Mountain: The Development of Radioactive Waste Policy in the United States

J. Samuel Walker's  The Road to Yucca Mountain, traces the U.S. government's  efforts to solve the technical and political problems of radioactive waste. From the Manhattan Project through the designation in 1987 of Yucca Mountain in Nevada as a high-level waste repository, Walker thoroughly investigates the approaches adopted by the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission (AEC). He explains the growing criticism of the AEC's waste programs, such as the AEC's embarrassing failure in its first serious effort to build a high-level waste repository in a Kansas salt mine. Clearly and accessibly, Walker explains the issues surrounding deep geological disposal and surface storage of high-level waste and spent reactor fuel. Walker analyzes the complex and divisive question of fuel “reprocessing”, weaving reliable research with fresh insights about nuclear science, geology, politics, and public administration, and ultimately producing what's considered the authoritative account that's an essential guide for understanding the continuing controversy over an illusive, obviously concerning, and emotional topic.

List of Illustrations 
Preface
1. A Solvable Problem 
2. A “Huge and Ever-Increasing Problem” 
3. An “Atomic Garbage Dump” for Kansas 
4. New Directions in Radioactive Waste Management 
5. Progressing toward Stalemate 
6. Commercial Low-Level Waste: A "Once Low Priority Matter" 
7. The Transportation of Nuclear Waste 
8. A Legislative “Solution” 

Notes 
Essay on Sources 
Index

Scientists and governmantal officials engaged in and responsible for nuclear energy programs, the decisions impacting the safety and assurances surrounding what has been historically a controversial source of energy for not only the U.S. but the world-at-large.