Yucca mountain, which was supposed to be open for business by know, was picked as the depository for high level nuclear waste many years ago. Commercial nuclear facilities have been waiting for the government to make good on it's promise to provide long term storage. Some facilities have exhausted their capacity for storing the highly radioactive spent fuel rods. The spent fuel rods are normally stored underwater in spent fuel "pools", but the utilities are using or looking at "dry storage" to keep their facilities running. Believe me when I say that this is not a good option. The state of Nevada has been fighting the opening of this facility. IMHO, the loss of high paying jobs @ DOE facilities located in Nevada has put a bad taste in their mouth, and we're involved in another round of the political game "What's in it for ME". I just hope that the government will get off the stick and take care of this situation before we have a real crisis involving energy and the environment.