I recently had to enroll my son in a drug and alcohol abuse center…

Needless to say, it was a very difficult time in my life…(it has gotten much better though, since he has been clean and sober since attending this program

Drug Treatment California

I wasn’t sure how to get him to enroll since he didn’t seem very “receptive” to the idea when I first brought it up to him. He’s 22 by the way and still was living at home so at least I had some leverage…

I called a bunch of drug treatment centers but then I came across the following article which really helped me to narrow down my options…

Here it is:

Helpful Tips for Choosing the Right Drug Treatment Center

The purpose of this article is to help individuals learn how to choose the right drug treatment center for themselves or their loved ones. Reading this article will allow you to develop a basic understanding of: The Different Types of Facilities The Different Levels of Care The Different Treatment Services This article is by no means a comprehensive picture of all the different types of drug treatment centers or drug treatment services. This is because in Southern California alone, there are 500+ facilities located within 100 miles of Los Angeles. So there is no way to outline all of these centers or their treatment capabilities. What this article will assist you in accomplishing is to determine the following: What type of facility you want to attend What level of care you initially feel is most appropriate based on need What types of treatment services you want the facility you attend to offer This article is designed to help individuals, or their loved ones, who are experiencing: Addiction Alcoholism Substance Abuse Chemical Dependency Prescription Drug Addiction If you or your loved one is experiencing any of the following it is best that you seek a free evaluation by calling (877) 415 4673: Depression Sex Addiction Panic Disorder Dual-Diagnosis Eating Disorder Anxiety Disorder Bipolar Disorder Trauma Disorder Gambling Addiction Acute Withdrawal; or Immediate Need for Crisis Intervention Step 1 “Choosing the Appropriate Type of Facility” Residential drug treatment centers basically break down into three categories. These are: Adolescent Facilities Young Peoples Facilities Adult Facilities Each of these categories treats a certain age group. These are: Adolescent Facilities- typically meet the needs of individuals ages 13-17. Young Peoples Facilities- typically meet the needs of individuals ages 17-25. Adult Facilities- typically meet the needs of individuals ages 18+. So the first step in choosing the right drug treatment center is to determine which category of treatment you or your loved one falls into based on age. Step 2 “Choosing the Appropriate Level of Care” The different levels of care offered within the three types of facilities basically break down into 5 categories. These are: Detoxification Services (Residential) Primary Care Services (Residential) Extended Care Services (Residential) Partial Care Services (Non-Residential) Outpatient Care Services (Non-Residential) Each of these levels of care offer different types of support. Here is a basic description of each level of care: Detoxification Services typically assist individuals in withdrawing from alcohol and/or drugs through the aid of medications prescribed by a physician. (NOTE: Detoxification Services are not usually considered a complete treatment for addiction. These services are specifically designed to help individuals establish a clean and sober baseline so that alcohol and/or addiction education and clinical treatment can be initiated; both which help to prevent the possibility of relapse in the future.) Primary Care Services typically introduce educational concepts of alcohol and/or addiction recovery and provide different types of recovery-related activities including; individual counseling, individual therapy, group therapy and alumni support groups, all of which are designed to be supportive while creating awareness of the issues that have contributed to developing chemical dependency and/or substance abuse tendencies. (NOTE: Many centers offering primary care services also offer relationship counseling and/or a Family Program.) Extended Care Services typically are residential but less structured than primary care services and usually serve individuals transitioning from Primary Care. These services represent a platform to further assist people who have limited life experiences or an extensive alcoholism and/or addiction history in living clean and sober while developing an independent daily routine. Extended Care Services include individual counseling, individual therapy, group therapy and alumni support groups. It’s often a place where individuals can learn basic life-skills while practicing recovery principles in a safe environment and still receive the clinical support needed to further a personal understanding of their own substance abuse and/or chemical dependency issues. Partial Care Services typically are non-residential and usually represented by 2-5 hours of treatment related services per/day. Individuals in attendance have the opportunity to attend group therapy and receive limited individual counseling and/or individual therapy. Because this level of care is non-residential, people attending can embrace their free time by attending school or maintaining employment. This level of care represents a safe place for individuals to process some of the feelings and emotions that are coming up during day-to-day activities as they directly relate to their recovery process. Outpatient Care Services are non-residential and allow individuals to shore-up an ample self-supporting daily routine (of school or work) with nightly groups and limited individual counseling and/or individual therapy. This level of care represents a safe place for people to process recovery-related feelings and emotions on an intimate group basis and typically serves to create a positive-peer group and sense of community away from the stressors of living clean and sober in early alcohol and/or addiction recovery. So the second step in choosing the right drug treatment center is determining what level of care is most appropriate for you. Step 3 “Choosing the Appropriate Treatment Services” Once you have determined the type of facility your age makes you eligible for and once you have basically decided what level of care appears most appropriate, it is time to determine what type of treatment services you want the drug treatment center to offer. Treatment services offered in drug treatment centers basically break down into three categories. They are: Medical Services Clinical Services 12 Step Services Medical Services typically encompass acute detoxification services, post-acute detoxification services and psychiatric services. (NOTE: Not all drug treatment centers offer medical services.) Clinical Services typically encompass the types of clinical therapy offered during treatment. These include psychological evaluation, individual therapy, experiential therapy, group therapy, couples therapy and/or family programs. (NOTE: Not all drug treatment centers offer a full array of clinical services.) 12 Step Services typically encompass recovery related individual counseling, recovery groups, trigger identification and relapse prevention, 12 Step meeting attendance and education/introduction to a 12 Step Program. (NOTE: Most drug treatment centers offer 12 Step services.) So step three is determining what sort of services you want the drug treatment center to offer. Some centers offer medical, clinical and 12 Step services while others may only offer limited clinical services and 12 Step services. Step 4 “Deciding on Cost” Now you should have a basic idea of the following: The type of facility you want to attend (based on age) The appropriate level of care (based on need) The types of treatment services you want your ideal facility to offer (based on need) In the United States in 2004 the least expensive treatment center was $0 for an indefinite stay. That center primarily focused on 12 Step Services and vocational activities. (In other words, clients worked to pay for their stay while attending daily 12 Step meetings) The most expensive drug treatment center in 2004 was located in Southern California and was $120,000 for a 2-week stay. This center primarily focused on exclusive medical treatments, psychiatric evaluations and psychologically supportive therapeutic measures. An Important Fact: A study conducted by the NIDA determined that 30-day treatment centers were approximately 30-35% successful in treating addictions. The same study found that if clients transitioned from primary care into some form of aftercare for 6 months or more that the success rates increased to 65-70%. (Success was defined by 5 years of continuous recovery) Aftercare for the purposes of this study was defined as: Extended care services, partial care services, outpatient care services or individual therapy. So what does this mean? It means that money won’t buy recovery. But the amount of money you spend may allow you or your loved one to receive treatment services that are more in line with their belief systems and historical experiences than perhaps say, a drug treatment center that only focuses on vocational activities. It also means that the longer you or your loved one can afford to stay in treatment, or if you can pay a certain amount for primary care services but still leave a reservoir of funds available for aftercare services the more likely it will be you or your loved one will achieve lasting recovery success. Here are some helpful tips for deciding on the amount you want to spend for enrollment in a drug treatment center: If you need detoxification services and primary care services then find a drug treatment center that offers detox as a component of primary care. This allows you to spend one amount and still cover both needs. Leave yourself a reservoir of funds available for aftercare services once you conclude primary care. In other words, don’t put all your eggs in one basket. If the NIDA has determined that 6 months of various aftercare services will increase the likelihood of success, then be sure you have funds available to secure these future services. Strong clinical services usually increase the cost of treatment. For example; a program that only offers 12 Step services is usually cheaper than a program that offers both 12 Step services and clinical services. Be realistic. The best approach is to find a program that offers a multitude of services under one roof. This allows you to cover all your bases with one expenditure and prevents costly enrollment fees if you were to say, enroll in four different facilities to receive four levels of care. Step 5 “Asking the Right Questions” To protect yourself or your loved one take the time (Probably not more than 10 minutes) to ask a few very pertinent questions of the center you’re thinking of enrolling with. Even in a time of crisis, which is often the case when researching a drug treatment center, a few crucial questions may help you to secure your decision to enroll or to continue your research to find a better suited facility. Remember to ask the drug treatment centers representative whether they meet the criteria you have already determined you may need. For Example: “Do you provide treatment for adults?” “Do you offer primary care?” “Do you provide medical, clinical and 12 Step services?” If the representative answers these questions to your liking then here are some important additional questions to ask. (NOTE: Below each question is also the preferred answer.) Question 1- May I have a copy of your daily schedule? Answer: Yes Question 2- Are you licensed by the State to provide drug and alcohol treatment? Answer: Yes Question 3- How many individual session’s will I (Or my loved one) receive per/week? Answer: “The facility representative should say at least 4 per/week” Question 4- Are those individual sessions conducted by a certified counselor or licensed therapist and related to addiction recovery or dual-diagnosis? Answer: Yes Question 5- What is the cost of your facility? Answer: “The facility representative should state the cost” Question 6- Does that cost cover all expenses? Answer: Yes Question 7- If a psychiatric evaluation is necessary, is that also included in the cost? Answer: Yes Question 8- Do you provide onsite medical detoxification services? Answer: Yes Question 9- Does a physician oversee the onsite detoxification services? Answer: Yes Question 10- Do nurses help with the hour-to-hour needs of each person needing onsite detoxification services? Answer: Yes Question 11- Do you provide 24 hour supervision of clients? Answer: Yes Question 12- Do you offer a Family Program for friends and/or loved ones? Answer: Yes If the representative answers all the previous questions satisfactorily then here are some questions that will amplify your understanding of the facility. Once you ask these questions you will have a comprehensive picture of the complete scope of services offered by the facility. (NOTE: These answers will vary from facility to facility) Question 1- What sorts of individual clinical therapy do you offer? Question 2- What sorts of groups do you offer? Question 3- Do you offer daily or weekly outdoor activities? What sorts of activities do you offer? Question 4- Do you offer experiential therapy? What sorts of experiential therapy do you offer? Question 5- Do you offer spiritually based activities? Are they mandatory? Question 6- Do you offer yoga, meditation or any holistic treatment? Question 7- Do you offer individualized treatment? Question 8- How do you individualize a person’s care? Question 9- What if I or my loved one leaves treatment early? Do you offer refunds? Question 10- Have you had any complaints filed against you? What was the basis for these complaints? Question 11- Are you a Co-Ed facility? Question 12- How many people do you treat at one time? Question 13- What is your staff to client ratio? Question 14- How many clients are assigned to each counselor/clinician? Question 15- What are the living arrangements like? How many people are assigned to each room? Question 16- Do you offer private counseling offices? Question 17- Do you have space for people to have private time? Question 18- Do you allow visitation? Question 19- What makes your facility unique? Question 20- What is the general age group currently being treated at your facility? NOTE: These questions are not unrealistic to ask. Use your intuition wisely during this process. If you begin to feel the representative is telling you what you want to hear ask to have his/her statements put in writing. If the representative refuses, it is probably wise to continue your research and to find another facility. Step 6 “The Red Flag Questions” There are a few questions that you may ask that are considered “Red Flag Questions.” If a facility representative answers “yes” to these questions you have great cause to be alarmed. Below each question is an explanation of why a “yes” answer is alarming. These questions are: Red Flag Question 1 – Do you have the cure for addiction? Alarming Because: There is no documented cure to addiction. Red Flag Question 2 – Can you guarantee my success? Alarming Because: Only your actions can guarantee your success, once you leave the center the responsibility to make healthy choices lies with you. Red Flag Question 3 – Are you the best drug treatment center? Alarming Because: There are a multitude of great drug treatment centers and people are getting clean and sober in centers all across the United States. Of these quality centers none are better or worse than the other, and ethical facilities are cognizant of this fact and willing to be vocal about it.   Conclusion This article is intended to serve as a helpful tool only. If you have additional questions or are in need of a free evaluation to assist you in determining what level of care is most appropriate to meet your needs then call (877) 415 4673. Remember that there are numerous resources available to help individuals struggling with substance abuse or addiction related issues. This article does not describe them all. If you have questions about how to find these resources, or you would like a comprehensive picture of all the differing types of drug and alcohol treatment related services available in your area call (877) 415 4673.

So…you’ve begun to try and find the drug treatment Los Angeles that is both the best suited for you and the best drug treatment Los Angeles available. Congratulations on taking the first step! There are many important things to know about drug treatment Los Angeles and there are many helpful tools and tips for choosing the best drug rehab setting for yourself or your loved one.

The first thing to remember is not to become overwhelmed. In California there are many, many drug treatment centers and finding and choosing the best drug treatment Los Angeles can be accomplished by taking just a few simple steps.

First: “The Questions to Ask”

Remember that not all the drug treatment Los Angeles rehabilitation centers are the same. You have to decide on what type of drug treatment setting will be the best fit for you. Treatment approaches and treatment settings usually differ from drug treatment center to drug treatment center. Some are big and some are small. Some are more personalized than others and some drug treatment Los Angeles centers offer individualized care and some offer more group treatment methodologies. The best drug treatment Los Angeles centers usually offer dual-diagnosis care but some don’t. There are a lot of differences in drug treatment. So when deciding on a drug rehab program that’s right for you it’s usually the questions that you ask of yourself that are often the most important first step when choosing the drug treatment Los Angeles that is most suited for your personal needs.

What questions you should ask yourself about drug treatment Los Angeles:

1.       Do you want to attend a large drug rehab setting or one of the more intimate drug treatment Los Angeles programs?

2.       Do you want the drug rehab program to offer dual-diagnosis treatment or does it not matter to you if the drug treatment Los Angeles program that you attend offers these types of services?

3.       Do you want a personalized treatment plan or do you prefer of more one-size-fits-all drug treatment Los Angeles approach?

4.       Do you care about having personal space while undergoing addiction treatment or do you prefer a drug treatment Los Angeles program that focuses more on providing communal space?

5.       Do you prefer to be treated while in drug rehab by addiction counselors or do you prefer the drug treatment Los Angeles program offer therapy with therapist and other licensed health care providers?

Once you answer these questions of yourself you are more likely to choose the best drug treatment Los Angeles for you.

Second: “Call the Drug Treatment Center”

Although it’s important to do some research about drug treatment Los Angeles on the internet the next step is to call the drug treatment center of your choosing. This will allow you to find out more about the drug treatment program because not all drug treatment Los Angeles programs have all the information you will need about the center on their website. When you call the center you should be sure to notice whether you get a good feeling from the drug treatment Los Angeles program’s representative. Ask them what their role in the drug rehab is. This is important because the person you talk to should be at least a certified addictions counselor. (That is a requirement in most states and in Los Angeles.) You don’t want to get an assessment from a person who is not licensed or certified to provide one and you don’t want to be coerced or “sold” treatment by a drug treatment Los Angeles program. If you get a good feeling from the drug treatment Los Angeles program than make the decision to move forward with enrollment. The best drug treatment Los Angeles programs usually run in high demand so you’ll want to get yourself into treatment quickly or at least secure your bed space with a deposit if you can’t enroll immediately.

Here are additional resources for asking questions of a drug treatment Los Angeles program that are available online:

Tips for Choosing the Best Drug Treatment Los Angeles Program

If you feel that calling a drug treatment Los Angeles program would be the next best step then call 1 877 415 4673 to speak with a certified professional for a free assessment.

The first thing you might notice when researching drug rehabs in Los Angeles is that there certainly are a lot of them! How can you possibly choose which program will be the best fit for you? Well, the first thing to realize is that why there may be a great many drug rehabs in Los Angeles, there are probably only a few drug rehabs in Los Angeles that will be a good match for you.

This is because not all drug rehabs in Los Angeles offer medical detoxification services, clinical treatment or individualized care. Also, not all drug rehabs in Los Angeles are modeled the same. Some offer drug treatment to 50+ clients at a time – some offer addiction treatment to less than 12 clients at a time. Additionally, not all drug rehabs in Los Angeles offer dual-diagnosis treatment and not all offer services beyond the confines of their addiction rehab setting.

So the first thing to do when trying to locate the best drug rehab in Los Angeles for you is to decide whether the following points are important to you:

·         Do you want to be in a large drug rehab program or do you want to be in a more intimate treatment setting?

·         Do you care about personal space or are you comfortable being in a drug rehab setting where you sleep in a room with several other people?

·         Do you need individual therapy or do you want to do mostly group activities?

·         Do you want to attend a drug rehab in Los Angeles that takes you offsite or are you more comfortable being isolated from your surroundings.

·         Do you need the drug rehab program in Los Angeles that you attend to offer medical detox or do you not need the addiction treatment center to offer these services.

These questions may seem foolish but if you want to attend the best drug rehab in Los Angeles for you than they are very important questions to ask.

Fortunately, not all drug rehabs in Los Angeles are the same. This allows for you to get your individual needs met by doing the research to find the best rehab environment for you. Some people in Los Angeles like big drug rehab centers…some like small. The important thing is that you know prior to calling a drug rehab in Los Angeles a little about what you want or what you’re looking for.

There are many more questions to consider when thinking about enrolling in a Los Angeles drug rehab. Some of these have to do with where the rehabilitation program is located. This is because many addiction treatment centers and drug rehab programs offer aftercare or continuing treatment. This should be thought about prior to enrollment if you want to attend an addiction treatment program. This is because if you live in West Los Angeles and you attend a alcohol treatment program in Hollywood and the aftercare starts at 5pm on Wednesdays and Fridays, how will you be able to fight through traffic and keep peace of mind…little less manage to keep up with other personal responsibilities. Or if you live in Hollywood and attend a drug rehab program in Malibu, how much drug rehabilitation services will you actually be able to receive in aftercare or continuing treatment if you have to drive the Pacific Coast Highway every Tuesday and Friday. Logistics sometimes are the last thing on your mind when trying the choose the best drug rehab in Los Angeles but if you spend just a few minutes thinking about it you will be able to narrow down your choices a bit. 

Ultimately the key to finding and finalizing your choice for the best drug rehab in Los Angeles is to ask the right questions. Researching drug treatment centers online is an important first step but be sure to keep notes and develop some questions to ask the drug rehab program representative so that when you decide to call a drug treatment center you may ensure that the program setting will be the best drug rehab for you!

Drug Rehab Los Angeles

In Los Angeles, California there are many drug rehab centers. This makes finding a drug rehab in Los Angeles a daunting process. How do you choose from all the drug rehab options and find the right one for you?

The first thing to do is take a breath and to commend yourself for taking this first step. Enrolling in a drug rehab program in Los Angeles, or anywhere else for that matter is an important decision…and the journey of a thousand miles always begins with a single step.

The second thing to do is to realize that not all drug rehab programs in Los Angeles are the same, so it is important to do the research in order to locate the best drug rehab setting for you. What most people need when researching drug rehab centers in Los Angeles is to locate the one that offers personalized care in the most supportive, comfortable setting possible. This is because the work that you will do in a drug rehab will be deep, cathartic and emotionally draining. The benefit of doing this kind of work in a supportive drug rehab setting is fairly obvious – it will help motivate you to continue to stay in rehab. What isn’t always as obvious, especially to family members and others is that attending a comfortable drug rehab in Los Angeles is also important – this is because comfort is paramount to creating both a willingness to stay in a drug rehab setting and also because comfort helps you to focus inward on yourself without uncomfortable distractions. If you’re distracted while in a Los Angeles drug rehab then you won’t be able to take full advantage of the short-time you have in treatment.

The third thing to realize about choosing a drug rehab in the United States or a drug rehab in Los Angeles is that the program has to offer you effective clinical treatment. Many traditional drug rehab centers, in Los Angeles and elsewhere focus more on modifying your behavior and isolating you from everyday life. The problem with that is two-fold.

1.       Behavior is a symptom of the need for drug rehab – but not the reason your addiction or abuse issue exists.

2.       If you are isolated while in a drug rehab in Los Angeles you may do well while in the drug rehab – but how can you learn to cope with life when you leave?

The Los Angeles drug rehab programs are numerous, but if you begin researching drug rehab and alcohol treatment with these few things in mind you will find that the best drug rehab in Los Angeles quickly rises to the top.

·         Find a drug rehab in Los Angeles that offers clinical treatment, not just behavior modification.

·         Find a drug rehab program that offers individualized treatment planning, not just a cookie-cutter treatment approach.

·         Find a drug rehab program that is in an area of Los Angeles that allows you to be comfortable, but not isolated.

·         Find a drug rehab in Los Angeles that offers a supportive setting where staff understands the process of addiction, alcoholism and substance abuse and doesn’t look down on you for your condition.

Remember – drug rehab Los Angeles…just typing the words into Google won’t get you enrolled even though it’s definitely a step in the right direction. Don’t be overwhelmed and keep your eye on the prize! Freedom awaits…it’s as easy as picking up the phone and calling a drug rehab in Los Angeles…and to make the first step that’s all you have to do!

In what seemed like an endless search to locate a drug rehab center in Los Angeles, I finally found something that made sense…

I had been looking into drug treatment for my sister who has been struggling with substance abuse as long as I can remember. First she was addicted to pot and then she graduated to cocaine addiction…last year she became addicted to heroin and started showing signs of heroin withdrawal…

My family had pretty much written her off as they had paid for numerous drug treatments for her over the past 5 years…so, I had to find  rehab that I could swing financially that had the kind of clinical approach that seemed so necessary to me given that she has failed in so many traditional drug rehab settings.

She has been living in Los Angeles, California where there seemed to be no shortage of drug rehabs but they were all really, really expensive…so after a long search I came across a website worth sharing:

www.arctreatment.com

They were really helpful in giving me assessment of the situation and I ended up enrolling my sister there due to the comprehensive nature of the clinical program which seemed much more pertinent to my sisters needs…

She has just completed the detox phase of the program and is doig really well. My sister says she feels like she is doing deeper work than she has in the past and she has been meeting with her therapist 5 times a week. This program offers her substance abuse counseling in addition to therapy which I am really happy about. The price was right and the staff has been very professional and caring! After doing almost 10 sessions per week between her therapist and counselor, coupled with all the group activities I am feeling very confident that my sis will make it…if anyone else is looking for treatment in Los Angeles, or wants to try attending a drug treatment center in California I strongly recommend the Authentic Recovery Center…they have really lived up to their name!

Best of luck!

Jim R

I really pose this more as a question…

Do we have to settle for believing in the two-party system?

Independents and the “green” party may contest that this is the case…but isn’t it really? I mean there is no way that anyone but whom the Republicans and Democrats nominate will take the White House…

I personally find it challenging because I do have both Republican and Democratic political views…not that it matters but I believe in upholding Roe v Wade…primarily because of the impact “unattended children” that grow into adulthood. (Ref: What Happens to Kids that Nobody Wants)

So if I believe that…I have to vote Democratic, right?

But I also believe that government should be fairly hands off and that everyone is responsible for themselves…I do believe in taxes supporting those that can’t support themselves…and I already pay approx. 37% of my income to support that belief. But shouldn’t I be able to believe that the government should be able to manage 350 million peoples 37% better? Shouldnt that really be enough to accomplish what social programs the Democrats rally behind?

I recently had such a good experience with an Electrical Contractor that I felt compelled to post up their website! It’s not often that the quality of work meets quality of character and these guys definitely have both!

http://www.cedar-electric.com/

I came across the following article written by Richard M. Jones on the following website:

Check it out!

http://www.aip.org/fyi/2008/087.html

After twenty years of study by more than 2,000 scientists and engineers about the feasibility of using Yucca Mountain, Nevada as a permanent nuclear waste repository, the United States is about “three to four years away from answering that question and putting it to bed.” So stated Edward F. Sproat III, Director of the Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management of the Department of Energy at a congressional hearing last month.

Sproat was one of the witnesses at a July hearing of the Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Since that hearing was held, DOE released a 52-page report that estimates a $96.2 billion life cycle cost over 150 years to research, construct, and operate the repository.

The “three to four years” Sproat referred to is the length of time that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission will need to review the 8,600-page license application that DOE submitted in early June. After an initial review of the adequacy of the application, NRC will, following reviews and hearings, determine if a construction and operating license can be issued. The earliest opening date for the repository is now estimated to be 2020.

The reasoning behind the $96.2 billion (constant 2007 dollars) cost of the repository is contained in an Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management report issued earlier this month entitled “Analysis of the Total System Life Cycle Cost of the Civilian Radioactive Waste Management Program, Fiscal Year 2007″ (available here. ) This “best estimate” figure increased 38 percent from a study performed in 2001, primarily due to a projected 26 percent increase in the amount of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste that would be stored in the repository. The increased waste necessarily incurs additional costs for transportation, waste packaging, and emplacement. Since 2001, DOE has further refined the rail transportation route alignment, and the canister-based storage system.
$16 billion in inflation was also factored into the calculation. The study assumes that emplacement would continue through 2073, requiring 42 miles of tunnels and the fabrication of 17,450 waste containers. Waste would be fully retrievable for at least 50 years. Transportation of the waste to Yucca Mountain would be by train, including a rail line leading to the site that must be built. The site would be decommissioned in 2133 with the storage of an estimated 109,300 metric tons heavy metal. Waste from potential new reactors was not included in the new analysis. The report notes that this most recent cost figure “should not be interpreted as a final, definitive estimate” since many assumptions were made.

Beyond the NRC review, and certain litigation, the opening of the repository faces another imposing obstacle: financing. The repository program has historically received $350 to $500 million a year. “That will not be sufficient to build or operate the repository” Sproat told the House committee. DOE estimates that between $1.2 billion and $1.9 billion will be required annually to construct and operate the repository.

A funding mechanism was established for the construction and operation of the repository that is now worth $21 billion. $750 million is added to this fund every year in mandatory nuclear utility fees. The fund also draws approximately $900 million in annual interest.

Congress has not used these funds as intended. Rather than allowing DOE to draw from this fund, Congress appropriates money. As subcommittee chairman Rick Boucher (D-VA) admitted during the hearing, “in practice, most of that [Nuclear Waste Fund] money has been expended for other purposes.” DOE has submitted bills to the last two Congresses to remedy this issue, but Sproat told the subcommittee “unfortunately, that legislation has gone no where.” Sproat added that with the submission of the license application, interest in a future bill may increase. “This is the key issue for moving Yucca Mountain forward,” he said.

california drug rehab

I went out to the hazel wood,
Because a fire was in my head,
And cut and peeled a hazel wand,
And hooked a berry to a thread;
And when white moths were on the wing,	5
And moth-like stars were flickering out,
I dropped the berry in a stream
And caught a little silver trout.
When I had laid it on the floor
I went to blow the fire a-flame,	10
But something rustled on the floor,
And someone called me by my name:
It had become a glimmering girl
With apple blossom in her hair
Who called me by my name and ran	15
And faded through the brightening air.
Though I am old with wandering
Through hollow lands and hilly lands,
I will find out where she has gone,
And kiss her lips and take her hands;	20
And walk among long dappled grass,
And pluck till time and times are done,
The silver apples of the moon,
The golden apples of the sun.William Butler Yeats

Here is a great tool I found for looking up the pagerank up a website…

http://www.top25web.com/pagerank