URGENCY TO SOLVE THE NUCLEAR WASTE DISPOSAL IMPASSE

The United States and other nations have been attempting to resolve the high level nuclear waste issue for decades. The events of September 11th of last year have increased the urgency to move forward so that at least one issue facing the expansion of nuclear power can be taken off the table. How is international terrorism linked to nuclear waste disposal? The western world, and particularly the United States, is reliant on foreign oil supplies and current policies are only leading to greater reliance. In the 1970's President Carter termed the energy crisis \"The Moral Equivalent of War\". Now we are at war, but the tension over reliance on the oil in the Middle East is not emphasized in debates. One very important way to begin relieving the tension is to become less reliant on those sources of petroleum. The means to do so include conservation and conversion to other energy sources. The conversion to a more electrified system through the expanded use of nuclear power (and coal) would be a very important step in the right direction. As to nuclear power, the solution of the high level waste issue is still a big stumbling block and must be resolved in a safe and publicly acceptable manner consistent with the current urgency placed upon us by the world we now live in.