Nuclear Storage & Disposal

There are many misconceptions about disposal and storage practices associated with nuclear waste, at least according to two pro-nuclear-energy information sources: Nuclear Energy Institute and World Nuclear Association. Nuclear power plants processes are heavily monitored and regulated due to the hazardous material dealt with. The International Atomic Energy Agency reported that nuclear power facilities produce about 200,000 m^3 of low level radioactive waste, and about 10,000 m^3 of high-level waste including used fuel designated as waste each year. However, there have been no evidence linking nuclear energy plants to negative effects on the health of the local residents or workers as reported by numerous sources such as the American Cancer Society, National Cancer Institute, American Academy of Pediatrics, etc.

As such, currently there are two many methods of storing/disposing the used nuclear fuel rods and waste, storage ponds and strategic burial.

Relative activity of used fuel with 38 GWd/t, IAEA
(referenced in Radioactive Waste in Perspective NEA 2010, pg. 74)

After being buried for about 1,000 years most of the radioactivity will have decayed. The amount of remaining radioactivity would be similar to naturally occurring, though more concentrated, uranium ore. In mined repositories, retrievability can be straightforward, but any deep borehole disposal is permanent.Deep boreholes are more appropriate for smaller amounts of wastes than national programs involving direct disposal of used fuel, and hence are more likely to be used for smaller volumes of shorter-lived wastes
Currently the United States has instilled a "Direct disposal but reconsidering" policy.

Citations — Literary Resources

"Radioactive Waste Management." World Nuclear Association. N.p., Oct. 2015. Web. http://www.world-nuclear.org/information-library/nuclear-fuel-cycle/nuclear-wastes/radioactive-waste-management.aspx.

"Myths & Facts About Radiation." Nuclear Energy Institute. N.p., n.d. Web. Mar. 2016. http://www.nei.org/Knowledge-Center/Backgrounders/Fact-Sheets/Myths-Facts-About-Radiation.