US senate bill S-167; a turning point in the united states approach to the nuclear fuel cycle

This paper examines the underlying for the current impasse existing in the U. S. regarding nuclear fuel cycle policy, and proposes actions to shift U.S. fuel cycle policy to meet both non-proliferation and domestic energy security concerns. Three near term actions are suggested: a program to convert weapons plutonium to MOX fuel for consumption in existing water reactors; reexamination of the safety and fissile material security of the direct disposal option; and a program to encourage dry recycle of spent fuel into existing water reactors, without separation of fissile materials rom the fission products. (authors)