EPA to Regulate Nuclear Waste Disposal for a Million Years
Monday November 27, 2006
The U.S. government may have a long reach, but trying to regulate nuclear waste disposal for the next 1 million years is a stretch even for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. But that is what the EPA is trying to do, following a court decision that said a regulatory plan for 10,000 years wasn't long enough to deal with the toxic effects of nuclear waste. Even a 10,000-year plan would require incredible assumptions--after all, 10,000 years is about the span of recorded human history--but a million years ago humans hadn't even become Neanderthals yet. Learn more about the proposal to regulate nuclear waste disposal for 1 million years and some of the issues surrounding it.
Comments
This absurdity certainly puts nuke waste into perspective, doesn’t it? Aside from the fact that the EPA is an impotent agency that’s part of the world’s most environmentally destructive country, modern civilization is likely to collapse many times over before this waste is “safe” for life. I agree that nuke waste must be regulated, but first we should agree to stop producing it so this problem doesn’t get any worse. How ridiculous! Booo!!!!