Oak Ridge Scientist Wagner to Speak at Carlsbad Nuclear Summit

    CARLSBAD, NM, September 10, 2013 /24-7PressRelease/ -- When making decisions about America's nuclear future, what role does reprocessing play? Does it make sense from an economic standpoint to reprocess most of our nation's current spent nuclear fuel supply? How do we work toward a reprocessing future?

The answers may surprise you, especially in light of a recent in-depth study about reprocessing conducted by Oak Ridge National Laboratory. One of the scientists involved in the study, Dr. John Wagner, will discuss the results of the study during the Oct. 14-17 National Nuclear Fuel Cycle Summit in Carlsbad, New Mexico. The event is hosted by the Carlsbad Department of Development (CDOD).

"Much of the nation looks to Oak Ridge for leadership on the reprocessing front," said CDOD President Dave Sepich. "Oak Ridge's recent assessment concluded that the current inventory of spent fuel is not needed to support future fuel cycles, which is a topic worth discussion. We're thrilled to have Dr. Wagner deliver a presentation on this developing subject."

Wagner is the Used Fuel Research, Development, and Demonstration group leader at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and he is one of about 30 science and policy experts who have agreed to present at the summit, Carlsbad's second nuclear conference. The theme of this year's summit is balancing policy with science, and the summit is designed to be an informative tool for legislators and community leaders in communities with nuclear waste issues.

Attendees will also have a limited opportunity to tour the Department of Energy's Waste Isolation Pilot Plant, or WIPP, an underground repository near Carlsbad used for the permanent disposal of defense-generated transuranic (TRU) waste. TRU waste is permanently disposed of in the thick salt beds of an underground repository, 2,150 feet beneath the earth's surface.

Visit www.nuclearfuelcyclesummit.org or call 575-887-6562 for more information and to sign up for the National Nuclear Fuel Cycle Summit.

The Carlsbad Department of Development promotes the economic and general welfare of the citizens of the City of Carlsbad and South Eddy County, New Mexico.

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