Date

2008

Document Type

Capstone Project

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)

Department

Social, Behavioral & Global Studies

Abstract

This paper examines Yucca Mountain as the nation's first planned permanent repository for nuclear waste. In addition to analyzing the site itself, I also examine the possible ramifications that opening this mountain site may have on the nuclear power revival movement and renewable 'green' forms of energy. These issues were explored using historical, descriptive, comparative and qualitative methods. As a consequence of applying these methodologies I determined the Yucca site to be geologically unstable; transportation issues associated with nuclear waste are more problematic than first envisioned; the choice of this particular mountain site involves enviornmental racism of the worst kind; the Yucca repository may lessen the fears associated with nuclear waste in the minds of the public to the point where centralized nuclear power of this sort will once again proliferate, this proliferation is 'not' the most suitable option for meeting America's future energy needs; and a 'decentralized approach' of adding power through renewable sources of energy would serve the nation best over the long term, thereby mitigating or even eliminating the need to build a repository at Yucca Mountain.

Comments

Capstone Project (B.A.) Global Studies Department

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