The United States has around 90,000 tons of nuclear waste stored in over 100 sites across 39 states. The storage locations vary in terms of structures and containers. For decades, the nation has been searching for a permanent site to dispose of this waste.
A 1987 federal law designated Yucca Mountain in Nevada as a permanent disposal site, but construction was halted due to political challenges. In 2011, Congress ended the project’s funding. Today, there is renewed interest in nuclear power to address emissions from fossil fuel plants and generate electricity for data centers and manufacturing.
The U.S. Supreme Court recently heard arguments about finding temporary storage locations for the nation’s nuclear waste. No matter the outcome, a permanent solution may be years away due to geological and political challenges.
Most of the nuclear waste is spent nuclear fuel from commercial power plants. It is stored in stainless steel canisters that are sealed in concrete vaults on or above ground at current and former power plants. The storage locations face corrosion threats, particularly near the ocean where saltwater can cause corrosion and damage to the containers.
Researchers continue to study potential solutions to contain nuclear waste during temporary storage and permanent disposal. A more permanent solution is likely decades away due to the need for a geologically suitable site that also meets public approval.
Source: https://www.livescience.com/planet-earth/nuclear-energy/theres-90-000-tons-of-nuclear-waste-in-the-us-how-and-where-is-it-stored