The federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission, as part of a "long-term" comprehensive study of its radioactive waste classification system, will consider reclassifying depleted uranium as high-level waste. Meanwhile, it will develop site-specific disposal criteria to help determine which landfills can safely accept large quantities of the radioactive material -- 11 tons or more.

This editorial is wonderful, and it comes from a state that is affected highly by the disposal of depleted uranium. The weak part comes at the end with this paragraph:

"The NRC needs to stop this madness. Federal regulators need to establish a moratorium on the disposal of depleted uranium until the study is complete."

The problem with that latter statement is that federal regulators will need to store the depleted uranium somewhere until the waste classification system debate is completed. The answer? Stop the processes that require uranium to function so that no uranium is mined. But, since this won't happen, then Americans must face the idea that depleted uranium needs to go in someone's backyard. Perhaps they should talk to the folks at Rocky Flats (sure, go hiking there, but take a Geiger counter with you. Great nature habitat created on top of stockpiles of radioactive materials here).