Re: Yucca Mtn. This should raise some hackles

[Tim Folkerts <tfolkert@FHSU.EDU>]

> BTW, why are we so much more worried about shipping spent rods than
> fresh ones, which are being shipped all the time with no apparent
> controversy. There may be a good explanation for this. I just don't
> know one.

I was wondering about this too, but then had an idea.  Presumably the mass
& volume are similar before and after use.  However, the uranium fuel has a
1/2 life of ~10^9 years, while the waste is ~10^3 yr.  This means an equal
amount of material is 10^6 more radioactive.  Also, the shorter half-life
means higher energy radiation, which further increases the danger.

Tim Folkerts
Department of Physics
Fort Hays State University
Hays, KS  67601
785-628-4501