Five states could store nuclear waste under a new Trump administration plan, the Department of Energy (DOE) announced on Tuesday. The proposal could give a boost to the nuclear energy sector, which in the United States has stalled for decades. Nuclear Waste CriticismThe issue of managing nuclear waste has been a sticking point among lawmakers. Instead, nuclear waste continues to be stored at the dozens of sites across the country. If not managed properly, nuclear waste can pose several risks to health and the environment, including radiation sickness, damage to genetics and heightened risks of cancer.