Spent Fuel Stored at U.S. Nuclear Plants May Raise Risks
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U.S. nuclear power plants that store thousands of metric tons of spent atomic fuel pose risks of a crisis like the one unfolding in Japan, where crews are battling to prevent a meltdown of stored fuel, nuclear safety experts said.
U.S. nuclear plants had an estimated 63,000 metric tons (138.9 million pounds) of spent fuel stored on site as of January 2010, according to a report from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. About 2,000 metric tons a year is expected to be added to that total, the NRC said.