[Posted 03/24/03]

Simply stated, nuclear energy is a way to generate heat by using the fission process of atoms. A nuclear power plant converts the heat into electricity. The Nation's nuclear power plants provide 20% of our supply of electricity.

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Today there are 104 commercial nuclear power reactors licensed to operate in 31 States. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has established regulatory requirements for the design, construction and operation of these plants. To ensure that the plants are operated safely within these requirements, the NRC licenses the plants to operate, licenses the plant operators, and establishes technical specifications for the operation of each plant. NRC has continuous oversight of and conducts inspections at the plants. It also has full authority to take whatever action is necessary to protect public health and safety, such as demanding immediate licensee corrective actions, up to and including a plant shutdown.

NRC also licenses and regulates research and test reactors - or non-power reactors. These reactors are designed primarily to be used to perform research and testing in the areas of physics, chemistry, biology, medicine, materials sciences, and related fields. They are also used in educating people for nuclear-related careers in the power industry, national defense, research and education.

Following the September 11 terrorist attacks, security measures were increased at all NRC-regulated facilities in response to NRC advisories sensitizing licensees to potential threats and advising them to take certain security measures. These measures include restricting activities and personnel to those considered essential, reviewing security procedures, enhancing access control, and coordinating with local law enforcement and other federal agencies. All reactors have put measures in place and remain in a heightened state of security awareness

The basic fuel for a nuclear power reactor is uranium. Uranium is a very heavy metal containing abundant concentrated energy. It is mildly radioactive and occurs naturally in the earth's crust. Natural uranium is mined and processed, or enriched, and manufactured into reactor fuel. Depleted uranium is a by-product or waste product of uranium enrichment.. The nuclear fuel cycle covers the entire process of mining uranium, to turning it into fuel, to using it in a nuclear power plant to produce electricity, and finally, to disposing of "spent," or used nuclear fuel.

Nuclear or radioactive waste is a byproduct from nuclear reactors, fuel processing plants, and institutions such as hospitals and research facilities. It also results from nuclear reactors being decommissioned and other nuclear facilities that are permanently shut down and dismantled. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission categorizes wastes into two broad classifications, based on its radioactivity: High-level or low-level waste. High-level radioactive waste results primarily from the fuel used by reactors to produce electricity. Low-level radioactive waste results from reactor operations and from medical, academic, industrial, and other commercial uses.

Nuclear Waste Storage and Disposal

The NRC has regulatory authority over storage and disposal of commercially generated high level waste in the United States. NRC regulations require conformance with minimum acceptable performance criteria for waste management activities, while providing for flexibility in technological approach. These criteria and guidelines are designed to ensure adequate protection of the public health and safety and the environment

Nuclear Waste Transportation

Regulating the safety of radioactive materials and waste shipments is the joint responsibility of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and NRC. The federal regulatory system works to protect transport workers and the public by setting performance standards for the packages and by setting limits on the radioactive contents and radiation levels for packages and vehicles. Information on radioactive shipments is provided by package marking and labeling, vehicle placards, and shipping papers describing the material. The NRC also imposes security requirements on shipments of spent fuel and on shipments of larger quantifies of highly enriched uranium or plutonium. These security measures include route evaluation, escort personnel and vehicles, communications capabilities, and emergency plans.

Decommissioning is the safe removal of a nuclear facility from service and reduction of residual radioactivity to a level that permits release of the property and termination of the license. Nuclear power plants are licensed for a term of 40 years. Some plants may be closed before that time elapses; others may seek an extension of the license period. Decommissioning must be completed within 60 years.