Final answer:
The Waste Isolation Pilot Plant is currently receiving transuranic waste, while Yucca Mountain is not receiving high-level nuclear waste due to ongoing challenges and lack of approval. Contrary to the claim, there is substantial high-level nuclear waste in temporary storage within the US.
Step-by-step explanation:
The misunderstanding in the question is regarding the state of nuclear waste disposal in the United States. As of now, the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) is indeed operational and receives transuranic waste, which includes materials contaminated with elements that have atomic numbers greater than uranium on the periodic table. However, Yucca Mountain, despite being planned as a site for the disposal of high-level nuclear waste, is not currently receiving such waste because the project has faced significant political, legal, and scientific obstacles. Also, contrary to the assertion that there is almost no nuclear waste material in temporary storage, in reality, there is a significant amount of high-level nuclear waste in temporary storage at various sites across the country, awaiting a long-term disposal solution.
The handling of spent nuclear fuel is a critical issue in the realm of nuclear power. Spent fuel rods, which contain a mix of highly radioactive isotopes, are initially cooled in pools and then often moved to outdoor concrete or steel dry storage containers where they are cooled by air due to the lack of a permanent disposal facility. Therefore, the correct statement among the options provided is that the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant is receiving government-produced transuranic waste.