U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu named Building & Construction Trades Department President, Mark H. Ayers, as a member of a Blue Ribbon Commission on America’s Nuclear Future, a group that has been charged with providing formal recommendations for developing a safe, long-term solution to managing used nuclear fuel and nuclear waste in the United States.
The Commission is being co-chaired by former congressman Lee Hamilton and former National Security Advisor Brent Scowcroft. The commission is made up of 15 members including scientists, industry representatives, and former elected officials.
Because President Barack Obama has made the decision not to proceed with the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository, he has directed secretary Chu to coordinate an effort to conduct a review of policies for managing the issues associated with spent nuclear fuel and nuclear waste. The commission announced this week by Chu has been given the responsibility of providing advice and making recommendations on issues including alternatives for the storage, processing, and disposal of civilian and defense spent nuclear fuel and nuclear waste.
