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According to scientists, who will bear the risk of a nuclear repository at Yucca Mountain?

A) The Environmental Protection Agency.
B) The Shoshone Nation.
C) The state of Nevada.
D) Future generations.

User JYeh
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1 Answer

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Final answer:

The risk of a nuclear repository at Yucca Mountain will predominantly be borne by future generations who will have to manage and secure the site for many thousands of years.

Step-by-step explanation:

The topic of nuclear waste storage and its consequences involve complex environmental, health, and political challenges. Nuclear waste from fission reactors, such as spent fuel, must be stored securely due to its long-term radioactivity. Plans for a nuclear repository, such as Yucca Mountain, involve trying to find geologically stable areas with minimal risk of groundwater contamination for the storage of these hazardous materials. Political and environmental justice issues arise, as seen with Indigenous communities historically facing the brunt of environmental hazards, such as uranium mining and nuclear waste storage proposals. The planned site at Yucca Mountain has faced opposition from local stakeholders, including the state of Nevada and native tribes like the Western Shoshone.

Nevertheless, the enduring nature of radioactive waste means that it's largely future generations who will deal with the ramifications of our nuclear waste and its containment, making the issue not only a current concern but a longstanding legacy.

User Lauri Koskela
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