Transuranic (or Alpha) Wastes: These are non-high-level w.:1stes that contain significant amounts of long-lived, alpha-emitting radionuclides. The wastes require long-term isolation from the biosphere.Other groupings of wastes include: Gaseous Wastes: These wastes include gaseous radionuclides and/or radionuclides as aerosols that are removed from gaseous waste streams. They generally fall into the low-level waste category, but some can be categorized as intermediate-level wastes. The wastes arise primarily from fuel reprocessing and from reactor operations and waste processing facilities. Typical radionuclides include hydrogen-3, carbon-14, iodine-129. Uranium or Thorium Mine and Mill Tailings: These wastes consist of large volumes of ore materials that result from mining (untreated rock) or milling ~treated rock) of ores. The wastes contain only naturally occurring radionuclides (e.g., uranium isotopes and uranium decay chain isotopes).Decommissioning Wastes: These wastes result from decommissioning of nuclear reactors and nuclear fuel cycle facilities. These wastes are generally largu in volume, and most of them are low-level or intermediate-level. although a small amount are ::ontaminated with transuranic radionuclides. NUCLEAR POWERAt the end of 1990, there were 420 nuclear power reactors in operation in 25 countries around the world (including countries with centrally planned economies), with a total net capacity of about 323 GWe (NW 3/14/91). In the countries with nuclear power that are discussed in this document, nuclear power supplied as little as 0.2% of the total electricity consumed in 1989 in Pakistan to as much as 74.6% in France. And because all of Italy's reactors have been shut down, nuclear power supplied 0% of its total electricity. Most of the nuclear power reactors in the world are light water reactors (LWRs), with the majority of these being pressurized water reactors (PWRs), and a significant fraction being boiling water reactors (BWRs). Other significant power reactor types are gas-coc:Jied reactors and pressurized heavy water reactors. Nine small fast-breeder reactors are also producin!J power (NEI 6/90).A summary of projections of net nuclear power plant capacity in the world, including countries that currently do not have nuclear power but are planning for it, is •Jiven in Table 1. By 1995, nucleargenerated electricity is projected to increase by about 1 0%; by 2000, by about 20%, and by 2005, by about 28% (relative to 1990 capacity) (NUKEM 2/91; NEI 6/90). The worldwide growth rate of nuclear power has slowed down significantly in the past five years. Nuclear power is projected to grow at a slower rate in the near future, but it is expected to continue to grow at a steady rate in the early 2000s.The amount of nuclear power in the United States and in a few oth•:!r western countries is currently projected to decline at about the time period of 2000 to 2005, but will continue to rise in many other countries, particularly in the Far East and in countries with centrally planned economies.