U.S. Seeks New Sites for Nuclear Waste Storage
The federal government is negotiating with states to build innovation campuses to replace legacy storage facilities by 2035.
Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Nuclear
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The U.S. Department of Energy is negotiating with five states to host new nuclear lifecycle innovation campuses for long-term waste management. Meanwhile, the decommissioned San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station remains home to 123 canisters of spent nuclear fuel.
Why it matters
The federal push for centralized waste processing aims to modernize the national nuclear fuel cycle and alleviate pressures on existing storage sites like San Onofre, which sits near major geological faults.
The San Onofre facility currently holds 3.6 million pounds of spent radioactive material. The ongoing $4.7 billion decommissioning process requires the transport of concrete and rebar to Utah.
The players
Department of Energy
The federal agency responsible for energy policy, nuclear security, and the management of spent commercial nuclear fuel.
Mike Levin
The U.S. Representative who secured $250 million in federal funding for the management of spent nuclear fuel at San Onofre.
San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station
A decommissioned nuclear power facility in Southern California currently holding 3.6 million pounds of radioactive material.
The details
Decommissioning requires stripping the site down to its foundations, a process that includes shipping non-radioactive debris by train to waste management facilities in Utah. The Department of Energy initiative seeks to establish innovation campuses where nuclear waste can be processed for recycling or secure disposal. These sites would handle the radioactive materials currently stored in isolated, legacy canisters at sites like San Onofre, which is nearing the scheduled demolition of its signature containment domes.
Timeline
2013: San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station ceased operations.
Late 2027: Demolition of the plant domes is scheduled to begin.
2035-2039: The projected window for moving stored spent fuel from current sites.
The Tech Race
The current federal initiative marks a shift from the 1987 federal law that designated Nevada as a singular repository site. By pursuing a distributed network of innovation campuses, the government is attempting to bypass decades of legislative gridlock.
The demolition of the San Onofre domes is set to begin in late 2027, altering the Southern California coastline. Local residents and stakeholders will see active movement of material as the site prepares for its final decommissioning phase over the next several years.
The takeaway
The federal government is moving toward a decentralized model for nuclear waste management to replace legacy storage solutions. Interested parties should monitor the list of potential host states, which is expected to be finalized as the Department of Energy moves toward the 2035 transport window.
Further reading
For more background on how the government manages power generation assets, visit Nuclear.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Spectrum News Bay News 9.
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