US poll finds support for deep geologic disposal

The research was commissioned by nuclear waste disposal technology company Deep Isolation Inc "to better understand how Americans think about nuclear energy, radioactive waste management, and permanent disposal solutions for used nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste." Carried out in April, the nationally representative survey of 1,000 adults explored public attitudes toward nuclear energy, concerns about radioactive waste, support for permanent disposal, views on deep geological and deep borehole disposal, and how opinions changed after respondents received information about different disposal technologies.

While 81% of those surveyed said they believed finding a permanent solution for disposal of high-level radioactive waste should be a national priority, only 28% supported continuing to store used nuclear fuel at reactor sites for many decades. The research also found strong support for deep geologic disposal: after respondents reviewed factual information about geologic disposal technologies, 65% said they supported deep borehole disposal as a solution for managing high-level radioactive waste.

Disposal in deep boreholes - narrow, vertical holes drilled deep into the earth's crust - has been considered as an option for the geological isolation of radioactive wastes since the 1950s. Deep borehole concepts have been developed in countries including Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland, and the USA but have not yet been implemented.

Deep Isolation's disposal solution envisages emplacing nuclear waste in corrosion-resistant canisters - typically 9-13 inches (22-33 centimetres) in diameter and 14 feet long - into drillholes in rock that has been stable for tens to hundreds of millions of years. The company's patented technology leverages standard drilling technology using off-the-shelf tools and equipment that are common in the oil and gas drilling industry.

The survey findings carry important implications for US energy and waste management policy as policymakers consider the future of nuclear energy. The findings also indicate that public confidence is likely to depend on transparent decision-making, meaningful public engagement and the visible involvement of trusted scientific and engineering experts, Deep Isolation said.

"The findings are clear," Deep Isolation Nuclear CEO and President Rod Baltzer says in his foreword to the report of the survey's findings. "Americans want action. They recognise the need for a permanent solution, and they do not want this responsibility left to future generations. At the same time, the research shows that many people are still unfamiliar with how nuclear waste is managed, and that concerns about safety, transportation, and long-term stewardship remain significant. The survey also shows strong trust in scientists and engineers to help guide decisions, reinforcing the importance of evidence-based policy and technically sound solutions.

"As the United States considers the future of nuclear energy, it must also move forward on the waste question. The public understands this. The challenge now is to turn that recognition into progress."

The research comes at an important time as policymakers and industry leaders work to advance a long-term strategy for managing used nuclear fuel, according to Todd Abrajano, President and CEO of the US Nuclear Industry Council. "The strong public support reflected in this survey aligns with growing interest in state-led approaches, including the Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campus initiative, that combine innovation with durable waste management solutions," he said.

Since 1987, Yucca Mountain in Nevada has been named in the US Nuclear Waste Policy Act as the sole initial repository for disposal of the country's used nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive wastes. The Department of Energy submitted a construction licence application to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission in 2008. The Obama Administration subsequently decided to abort the project, but its status as the identified site still remains enshrined in US legislation.

As of 2026, according to information from World Nuclear Association, there is a total of approximately 95,000 tonnes of used fuel from nuclear power generation in the USA, all of which is in storage at current or former nuclear power plant sites.