Reply #14: But you didn't specifically mention spent fuel rods in your post, [View All]

[MadHound]

Your post specifically stated, "97% of that "waste" is actually usable fuel." The OP that you were replying to didn't specifically mention spent fuel rods either, but was talking about "radioactive waste".

I was pointing out that your figures, when it comes down to radioactive waste, were simply wrong. If you were talking specifically about spent fuel rods, then say that, don't assume that people are mind readers.

And no, the radioactive waste, aside from spent fuel rods, is not a minor issue, relatively speaking or not. A "fairly quick" half life for activated aluminum is measured in hundreds of years. The material that winds up on gloves, swipes, etc. can range from plutonium to iridium, depleted uranium to samarium, with varying half lives. But the key to this material is that it isn't adhered to, bonded with other material, and thus is easily dislodged, by wind, water, friction, etc. It is then free to escape into the environment, and who knows from there.

When people are talking about long term storage, no, they're not talking about just spent fuel rods. Luckily, the people at the NRC are less cavalier than you are when it comes to this material, and treat it with at least some of the seriousness it deserves.