Final generic environmental statement on the use of recycle plutonium in mixed oxide fuel in light water cooled reactors. Executive summary

A series of parametric studies of fuel cycle costs was made to determine the effect of nuclear growth rate, delays in start of widescale recycle, fuel cycle unit costs, the period of time covered, and discount rate on the difference in fuel cycle costs attributable to recycle of uranium and plutonium. The transfer of recovered plutonium from use as fuel in light water reactors to the liquid metal fast breeder program was also the subject of analysis. Detailed analyses were made of the fuel cycle costs for the five major fuel cycle alternatives. The effect of the fuel cycle options on the safety of light water reactors and fuel cycle facilities, and on the environmental impact of light water reactors are summarized