Russia sees a potential $15 billion enterprise in storing nuclear waste from around the world, and Russian officials will meet next week with Vice Pres. Al Gore and other U.S. officials to discuss the project. Under the plan, nations would pay as much as $1.5 million per metric ton to have an estimated 10,000 tons of nuclear waste moved to Russia. In addition to being used to build storage facilities, the money would be spent on cleaning up Russia’s own nuclear messes and helping disadvantaged Russian citizens. Russian officials say that coordinating storage efforts between nations could help address issues of nonproliferation and terrorism. The plan will likely raise the ire of Russian environmental groups although the U.S.-based Natural Resources Defense Council is helping to guide its development.
