Nuclear waste from our Palo Verde Generating Station is managed in compliance with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations requirements. These agencies conduct regular audits, and the audit reports are reviewed by the Pinnacle West Nuclear and Operating Committee.
This committee is selected by the Pinnacle West Board of Directors on at least an annual basis. The committee reports regularly to the board on overall performance of Palo Verde, including operations, safety, legal compliance, key performance indicator results and trends, and any significant incidents or events.

A model of dry cask storage used at the
Palo Verde Generating Station.
We have a comprehensive waste management program and training that is recognized by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission during inspections as an industry leader. Due to the sensitivity of the business and maintaining the highest level of security, our process and procedures are not for public disclosure.
NRC Security Inspection - Palo Verde Generating Station (October 2020)
NRC Integrated Inspection Report - Palo Verde Generating Station (February 2022)
All employees are required to complete training that includes classroom and computer-based courses and a practical before being allowed to enter the Radiological Control area. As part of the training, employees are also educated to minimize what they take into the area to help in reducing radioactive waste. Employees are required to refresh their training every four years, and contractors every two years. There is additional training required for employees who handle the packaging and shipping of waste.
Palo Verde produces high-level nuclear waste in the form of spent fuel and low-level waste, such as used protective clothing, filters, resins and other contaminated items. We safely and securely store all of Palo Verde’s high-level nuclear waste (i.e., spent fuel) on site. Palo Verde continues to move spent fuel from the spent fuel pools to dry cask storage. In 2020, Palo Verde implemented the MAGNASTOR dry cask storage system as an upgrade from the previously utilized NAC-UMS dry cask storage. This allows Palo Verde to more efficiently store high-level nuclear waste utilizing updated technology that is being adopted by other sites across the industry. Dry cask storage is a safe, low-maintenance and effective interim storage method for all of our high-level nuclear waste.
In addition to the on-site maintenance of spent fuel and high-level waste, Palo Verde manages its low-level waste by packaging it into proper containers and shipping it for disposal in permitted disposal facilities. Low-level radioactive waste represents waste that was shipped off-site, not what was generated for the year. Fluctuations in waste shipments are impacted by episodic events, legacy waste and what was disposed of each year.
Learn more about our nuclear waste data.