Talk Radio News Service: News, Politics, Media

By Sofia Sanchez - University of New Mexico/Talk Radio News Service

The Department of Energy (DOE) on Friday announced the creation of a Blue Ribbon Commission on America’s nuclear future Friday.

According to a statement released by the DOE, U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu was called on by President Baracl Obama to develop a commission. This commission would provide recommendations for developing a safe, long-term solution to managing the nation’s used nuclear fuel and nuclear waste.

“Finding an acceptable long-term solution to our used nuclear fuel and nuclear waste storage needs is vital to the economic, environmental and security interests of the United States,” said former Rep. Lee Hamilton (D-Ind.), who is co-chairing the commission. “This will be a thorough, comprehensive review based on the best available science.”

Currently, there are two nuclear repositories located in the southwestern United States. Yucca Mountain, however, which was selected by Congress 22 years ago to store civilian nuclear waste, has been surrounded by controversy, and it is often the focus of many legal and political fights.

According to the committee, that location should no longer be an option to store nuclear waste. This raises questions over the repository located in Carlsbad, N.M., which, since opening in 1999, has received 60,000 cubic meters of radioactive waste from the country's nuclear defense facilities.

But since the administration has decided not to proceed with the Yucca Mountain site, Carlsbad may be the only option left.