BOISE, Idaho — The Navy and U.S. Department of Energy have announced that they'll build a $1.65 billion facility at a nuclear site in eastern Idaho that will handle fuel waste from the nation's fleet of nuclear-powered warships.
Officials on Tuesday said the new facility is needed at keeping nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and submarines deployed.
The facility will be built at the Energy Department's 890-square-mile site that includes the Idaho National Laboratory, considered the nation's primary lab for nuclear research.
The decision concludes a lengthy environmental process that also looked at continuing using outdated facilities or overhauling them.
Officials say the new facility will operate through at least 2060 and can handle a new type of spent-fuel shipping container used by the latest warships.
20th CBRNE Command's Nuclear Disablement Team members in a reactor control room simulator determine the necessary steps to safely shutdown the reactor at Idaho National Laboratory, Oct. 23, 2015.
Photo Credit: Idaho National Laboratory
