SC Sues Energy Dept Over Unfinished Nuclear Fuel Project

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

SC Sues Energy Dept Over Unfinished Nuclear Fuel Project

By MEG KINNARD, ASSOCIATED PRESS
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Feb 9, 2016, 1:02 PM ET

South Carolina has again sued the federal government over an unfinished project to convert nuclear weapons components into reactor fuel.

The lawsuit filed Tuesday by Attorney General Alan Wilson accuses the federal government of acting unconstitutionally in failing to complete the mixed-oxide facility by a Jan. 1 deadline. The suit also seeks daily fines of $1 million and plutonium removal.

The project is years behind schedule and billions over budget. Because the facility isn't operating, the federal government was supposed to remove 1 metric ton of plutonium from South Carolina or pay fines.

The project's future is unclear. In his budget submitted Tuesday, President Barack Obama included minimal funding for the mixed-oxide fuel project.

South Carolina dropped an earlier lawsuit against the administration after officials said they wanted to shutter the project.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/sc-sues-energy-dept-unfinished-nuclear-fuel-project-36812338

[jpak]

1. MOX is an expensive, dumb and unecessary boondoggle

yup

[Nihil]

2. Whilst not denying that the government is fond of "expensive, dumb & unnecessary boondoggles" ...

... what *are* they supposed to do with nuclear warheads to make them
safe in the best (most efficient) manner?

Thanks.

[bananas]

3. Downblend with inert material and bury it with other high-level waste.

Report by IPFM for the NNSA ranks the 5 options:
http://fissilematerials.org/library/2015/08/plutonium_disposition_study_op_1.html

[Nihil]

5. Thanks! (n/t)

[bananas]

4. Disposal beats MOX in US comparison (leaked DOE report)

http://www.fmwg.org/in-the-news.cfm?action=article&page=0&id=55AD30C2-FEB0-49AE-B413-14325EB3E047