"It would seem inconceivable that a government entity would consider giving their endorsement of the PFS plan without thoroughly taking into account the added terrorist threat our nation now faces," Hatch said.

Hatch pointed out that post 9-11 9/11 terrorism analyses have been conducted at all federal facilities licensed by the NRC, but the agency has refused to reopen the regulatory process to even consider it in the PFS project.

Hatch added that he supports the Yucca Mountain repository as a "safe, remote location where spent fuel could be buried deep beneath the desert."

But a national strategy to deal with the waste is of critical importance.

"The president is calling for a robust nuclear power strategy, and his reasons are clear: nuclear power is clean and safe, and there is an abundant supply of cheap uranium in North America," Hatch said. "But my question is, what are we going to do with all the waste? We cannot have a nuclear power strategy until we know what to do with all the spent nuclear fuel."

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E-mail: spang@desnews.com