Event

Solving the Unsolvable: Nuclear Waste Solutions for the New Millennium

Apr 6, 2018 |
Washington, D.C.
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Managing spent fuel is one of the most significant challenges surrounding the use of nuclear energy. Although the technical means to build repositories exist, disposal attempts have often faced strong political and societal pushback. Many states are now acknowledging the urgency of the matter and considering multinational or national interim storage facilities until they construct a permanent repository. The Stimson Center and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences’ Global Nuclear Future Initiative co-hosted a seminar on “Solving the Unsolvable: Nuclear Waste Solutions for the New Millennium.” Led by experts from academia, government, NGOs, and the nuclear industry, the panels and discussions examined the existing interim storage facility proposals as well as opportunities and challenges that lie ahead.

9:00-9:15 AM
Opening Remarks by the Stimson Center and the American Academy of Arts & Sciences

Speakers:
Cindy Vestergaard, Stimson Center
Francesca Giovannini, American Academy of Arts & Sciences

9:15-10:45 AM
Panel Discussion: Nuclear Waste Management – Existing Proposals and Levels of Governance

Chair: Cindy Vestergaard, Stimson Center

Speakers:
Putting proposals into the global context
Carlyn Greene, UXC

Towards Regional Solutions to Nuclear Waste Management: Lessons Learned from Institutions around the World
Francesca Giovannini, American Academy of Arts & Sciences

Multilateral Interim Storage
Robert Rosner, University of Chicago

Current Multilateral Repository Initiatives   
Charles McCombie, ARIUS Association 

11:00-12:30 PM
Roundtable: Factors that might Advance Storage Solutions at the National or Multilateral level: Experiences from around the World 

Chair: Robert Sloan, Tulane Law School

Speakers:

South Australia 
Geordan Graetz

Canada
Tom Issacs,  Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

Current Status of Taiwan's Storage/Disposal Plan
Yea-Jen Tseng, Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology 

Working on capacity building at national and regional level: NTI work in Asia
Andrew Newman, Nuclear Threat Initiative

12:30-1:30 PM
Lunch and Keynote Address: the Situation in the United States and Steps Forward

Introductory Remarks: Robert Rosner,  Unviersity of Chicago

Speaker: Daniel B. Poneman, Centrus Energy Corp.

1:30-3:00 PM
Roundtable: Challenges and Possibilities Ahead  

Chair: Jacqueline Kempfer, Stimson Center           

Speakers:
New nuclear suppliers and spent fuel management
Mark Hibbs, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

Cost of Geological Disposal: What are - could - should they be?
Charles McCombie and Neil Chapman, Arius Associate

The Role of ‘4S’ Nuclear Principles
Cindy Vestergaard, Stimson Center

Videos
Solving the Unsolvable: Nuclear Waste Solutions for the New Millennium