“Energy Secretary Steven Chu said yesterday the proposed Yucca Mountain site in Nevada no longer is an option for storing highly radioactive nuclear waste, brushing aside criticism from Republican lawmakers. Chu said the Obama administration believes the 60,000 tons of waste in the form of used reactor fuel can remain at nuclear power plants while a new plan for waste disposal is developed. Chu’s remarks touched off a sometimes testy exchange with Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and provided the most definitive signal yet that the government’s attempt to address the commercial nuclear waste problem is taking a dramatically new direction.”

Newsday

And there’s no money in the budget for it.

“President Obama’s proposed budget cuts off most money for the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste project, a decision that fulfills a campaign promise and wins the president political points in Nevada — but raises new questions about what to do with radioactive waste from the nation’s nuclear power plants.”

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