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Letter to the National Academy from William Hannum, PhD
Gentlemen:
Various people have brought to my attention the National Academy's recently established Expert Panel on the Merits and Viability of Different Nuclear Fuel Cycles and Technology Options and the Waste Aspects of Advanced Nuclear Reactors. These are highly important topics, and deserving of an expert review. I have spent almost my entire career studying advanced nuclear fuel cycles and nuclear waste handling and disposal. There are several key points that I believe should be addressed by the panel:
1. The viability of different fuel cycles in the context of this study must include economic as well as technical viability.
2. It will be important to differentiate between technical and political considerations.
3. This topic can only be discussed in a world context, not a national context.
4. There is great uncertainty in the characterization of the risks of radiation.
5. Discussing the waste aspects of advanced nuclear reactors without addressing other nuclear wastes destined for disposal is meaningless.
I have attached a brief statement on the situation as I see it. I would appreciate your forwarding these comments and the attached paper to the Panel.
William H. Hannum, Ph.D., fellow of the American Nuclear Society
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