Too Hot to Touch
The Problem of High-Level Nuclear Waste

A fascinating and authoritative account of the controversies and possibilities surrounding nuclear waste disposal, providing expert discussion in down-to-earth language.

William M. Alley (Author), Rosemarie Alley (Author)

9781107030114, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 22 November 2012

383 pages, 47 b/w illus. 2 tables 23 exercises
23.5 x 16 x 2.4 cm, 0.69 kg

'… a thorough history of nuclear waste generation and disposal … both engaging and insightful. It is enriched by numerous anecdotes and biographical sketches that are frequently amusing or disconcerting … reasonably priced and should be of interest to a broad audience.' Alan E. Fryar, Groundwater

Today, the issue of waste management is as prominent as reactor safety in the controversies surrounding nuclear power and is particularly topical in the US since the 2010 closure of the Yucca Mountain repository project. William M. and Rosemarie Alley provide an engaging and authoritative account of the controversies and possibilities surrounding disposal of nuclear waste in the US, with reference also to other countries around the world. The book tells the full history from the beginnings after World War II up to today, bringing to life the pioneering science, the political wrangling and media drama, and the not-in-my-backyard communities fighting to put waste elsewhere. Written in down-to-earth language, by an expert with key involvement in the Yucca Mountain project, this is a timely book for public interest groups, affected communities, policymakers, environmentalists and research scientists working in related fields and anyone interested in finding out more about this important issue.

Acknowledgements
List of units
List of abbreviations
Introduction
Part I. The Problem: 1. The awakening
2. Brainstorming
3. The ocean as a dumping ground
4. Radioactivity and atomic energy
5. The Cold War legacy
6. The peaceful atom and its wastes
7. Recycling
8. Dry cask storage
9. Interim storage
10. A can of worms
11. WIPP
Part II. The Mountain: 12. The search for a geologic repository
13. Nevada wins the lottery
14. The Nevada test site
15. Yucca mountain
16. How long is long?
17. Leaving almost no stone unturned
18. Surprise
19. Shake and bake
20. The project gets into hot water
Part III. No Solution in Sight: 21. A new president, new policies
22. Nuclear waste and our energy future
Appendix: discussion questions
References
Index.

Subject Areas: Social impact of environmental issues [RNT], The environment [RN], Earth sciences, geography, environment, planning [R]