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Nuclear waste is very controversial issue in the United States today. “Nuclear waste is any waste that results from using radioactive materials for purposes that include electricity production by nuclear power plants, defense activities, and nuclear weapons manufacture, medical treatment, nuclear research, industrial processes, and mining and milling of uranium ore” (uwsp.edu). There are many arguments dealing with the disposal of nuclear waste, such as how to transport it, is it safe and where to store it. Terrorism is also an issue that the United States should be concerned about when transporting nuclear waste. The waste can also occur naturally and is almost necessary for some essential items such as fuel for power generation, x-rays and other medical devices. Nuclear waste can be broken into three different categories “low level waste” (LLW), “intermediate level waste” (ILW), and “high level waste” (HLW). Nuclear waste can also be dangerous if not stored properly. There is also danger in transporting it from place to place. This is a very important and controversial issue in the United States, and we should all be aware of it.
Nuclear waste became an issue about 61 years ago with the development of the first nuclear weapons in the United States in 1945 (cleanwisconsin.org). The Atomic Energy Act was passed in 1954. This gave the government the right to use atomic energy. However, this also meant they had to properly dispose of it. In 1956 the best way to store the higher levels of nuclear waste was thought to be deep geologic (underground) disposal. But in the 1960’s and 70’s, they also thought about buried salt beds and nuclear facilities to store the waste. However, the original idea of deep geologic disposal would remain the way to store nuclear waste. There was a disposal project in the 1980’s geared towards this type of disposal. The Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 required that two sites be recommended in order to provide...