Transporting and Storing High-Level Nuclear Waste in the U.S.—Insights from a Mathematical Model

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

This study is very timely. Research on spent fuel is very important and necessary for other researchers. In particular, we conclude that the results of this study will contribute to further research. Of course, the implication of this study is politically controversial. Nevertheless, the value of this study is acknowledged.

Author Response

Please find our response in the uploaded PDF file.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

- Footnote 1 (Ng, H. Dry Cask Storage, 2014) should be replaced with a better source as the latter is only a coursework submission, whereas footnote 1 is an important point and needs to be made clear. - Reference [8] should be reinforced with at least one peer-reviewed paper or independently academic publication (e.g. report of the Blue Ribbon Commission) as the current one is simply a position paper from a traditionally anti-nuclear organization and thus should not be relied upon. - The authors argued in line 266 that "the expansion of operational life is only sensible if the question of permanent storage is solved" - this might be considered a gross assumption since no where in the world (except for maybe Sweden) the permanent storage problem has been solved, yet many NPPs have been granted life extension license. This assumption should be revised to be more realistic and appropriate. - Reference [37] is a little bit too old as a cost reference. More recent peer-reviewed papers or reports would be more suitable. This consideration is necessary as security cost has been skyrocketed since 9/11. - Since this is a longterm problem, interest rate would play a very important role. Therefore, the sensitivity analysis with regards to interest rate/discount rate should be explained in more details as it appears in the abstract as a key finding of the study. - In the conclusions, the issues of public acceptance and local vs. federal politics have to be discussed, at least in brief, because they play an equally important, if not more to the feasibility of Yucca or any other final disposal options than the economic factor.

Author Response

Please find our response in the uploaded PDF file.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 2

Reviewer 2 Report

I would recommend the draft in its current form for publication.