U.S., Japan Deny Plans to Send Spent Nuclear Fuel to Mongolia

[Bonobo]

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703730804576313680900023752.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

By PETER LANDERS

WASHINGTON—The U.S. and Japan confirmed Monday that they have held discussions with Mongolia about nuclear waste management, but both denied that they have any plans to send their spent nuclear fuel to the lightly populated Asian nation.

On Monday Japan's Mainichi newspaper reported that the U.S., Japan and Mongolia were set to sign an agreement over the project in February, but put it off after objections from Japan's Foreign Ministry. The newspaper said it would be easier for the U.S. and Japan to sell their nuclear-reactor technology overseas if they could offer countries a place to put their nuclear waste.

A Department of Energy spokeswoman said: "The U.S. government is not negotiating a deal to send spent nuclear fuel to Mongolia." She added, "No discussions or potential fuel leasing services involve U.S.-origin spent nuclear fuel."

Asked whether Japan was talking with Mongolia about nuclear-fuel storage, Japan's deputy foreign minister, Chiaki Takahashi, said at a news conference Monday that the countries had held an "informal exchange of views" about the subject. He said the talks didn't reach a conclusion and Japan doesn't intend to send its spent nuclear fuel to Mongolia.