The waste issue is the most mis-represented issue of Nuclear power. People jump on the bandwagon of "it lasts for a million years!" argument, which is overly simplistic. The problem is that it's difficult to discuss without going into the details of the chemistry and physics going on with respect to waste. What comes out of coal stacks is probably equally difficult but nuclear is easier since it's easy to visualize the barrels of glowing green goo (which is also false).

Basically, there are many different types of byproducts from spent nuclear fuel, most of which (~90%) is plain old Uranium 238, which isn't a problem. The stuff people need to worry about is not the Plutonium or Uranium that lasts for millions of years, it's the Scrontium and Iodine isotopes that have half lives of 20-50 years. The half-life is key to understanding the intensity of the radiation given off. A pound of something that decays in 20 years is much more dangerous than one pound of something else that decays in 1 million. These short half-life isotopes are much more dangerous to humans than longer ones but if controlled, are not a problem after the time frame of half a human life. There are many other specifics like this that are difficult to communicate to the average citizen. So activist groups easily use the million year argument to frighten people that their babies will all have 3 arms and such, when that's not really the full truth. But it works wonders for mobilizing people against the industry.

As many have somewhat mentioned here, the waste situation is manageable and there are several solutions that can be employed. The topic of this article, cost, is actually more problematic than waste disposal however, this article doesn't analyze it properly to be of any value.

If the claim that plutonium byproducts aren't hazardous is the basis for your argument that nuclear waste disposal isn't a factor, then I already know that I don't need to consider the rest of it.

I was speaking with respect to radiation. Plutonium is known to be toxic. So yes, they must be controlled in that respect. It also has a proliferation concern, which I also did not bring up.

However, you seem to be unable to connection the pieces of the puzzle. Many others here have given you more than you need to know on how to deal with plutonium and other waste products. You just can't seem to connect the dots so you rather lash out at the entire issue with these little snippets of analysis as if each is a knell to the idea. Something that seems to be a problem these days on all sorts of issues actually.

But apparently they want to any way they can. :(

I'd love to see a report or link to a report from a reputable source saying France dumps their waste into the Ocean. Until then I call BS.

Obama needs to win by the pledged delegates to have the story that makes his win seem better than by press release.

Oh well.

Low level radioactive waste though is not the stuff that comes out of reactors. Still doesn't justify it, but there is a difference.

I don't think the issue is as clear cut as it sounds. Also, why again is it a problem to put low level waste in a stream but coal can spew arsenic into the air freely? Not trying to justify it, but it seems nuclear gets an unfair amount of attention when coal runs free.

There's the Alberta and Quebec primary on June 16th, then there's Guatamala, Costa Rica, Mexico and Nicaragua on June 25th. You can't count out the super duper primary with British Columbia and Ontario on July 2nd. That's going to be pretty big.

I know it would somewhat go against Obama's message, but she might actually fit ok. I have been largely against it due to the way she campaigned, but honestly, what was she supposed to do? She was down to last ditch efforts and I think when you get backed into a corner, there isn't anything else you can do. Losing graciously really never was an option for her.

It all depends though, on how she conducts herself over the next few weeks. I think it's entirely possible for her to redeem the qualities that I really enjoy about her. Things such as her suggestion to have an Apollo project for clean energy and to end the "war on science" as it's called.

We'll see I guess. She's done pretty well since Indiana and North Carolina actually.

Oh I'm sorry, I just woke up. His speech literally put me to sleep!

Unbelievable. I hope everyone starts to move away from her and further marginalize her behavior. I actually posted today that I wouldn't mind her as VP but after that speech tonight, not a chance would I want her there.

She asks for so much but she didn't earn anything with her speech tonight. I am simply shocked at the way she carried herself and it was simply awful. It was all about her and nothing more. She had an opportunity to walk away graciously or at least congratulate Obama for winning the nomination, but having a "rally" three stories underground so no one there knew he won the nomination was just more of the same from her. She simply cannot stand losing and missed an opportunity to go down in history as a magnificent female leader, but succumbed to her limitless ego instead. I hope her supporters feel ashamed at her actions and supporting them. You are doing no one any good by continuing on this path.

I'm sick of wasting electricity to put Katetex's posts on my screen.

Think of the environment please!