How many long-term commercial below-ground nuclear waste depository sites are currently operational in the United States?

The correct answer is that there are currently zero long-term commercial below-ground nuclear waste depository sites that are operational in the United States. The management of nuclear waste remains a significant challenge, as the nation has not yet established a permanent repository for high-level radioactive waste from commercial nuclear power plants.

Efforts have been made to develop such facilities, notably the Yucca Mountain project in Nevada, which has faced numerous political, environmental, and regulatory challenges, ultimately leading to the suspension of its development. As a result, high-level waste is currently stored on-site at nuclear power plants or in temporary facilities across the U.S., rather than being processed into long-term depositories.

This situation highlights ongoing debates about nuclear energy, waste management, and the associated risks, as communities and stakeholders grapple with the implications of nuclear waste storage and the necessity for a long-term solution.