New Mexico backs Texas in opposing nuclear fuel storage
Top Democrat officials in New Mexico can agree with Texas Republicans on some things, and recently, the opposition to high-level nuclear waste storage in the two states has united members of both parties. Leaders in New Mexico are in agreement with Texas that the interim storage of high-level nuclear waste is illegal and a federal government overreach
Congressman August Pfluger speaks with CBS7 on nuclear waste storage in Andrews
Congressman August Pfluger spoke with Odessa’s CBS 7 News about the recent Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s decision to license a high-level nuclear waste dump site in Andrews, Texas. The site, owned by Waste Control Specialists and Orano, is operated by Interim Storage Partners.
U.S. Regulators Approve Texas Nuclear Dump Despite Opposition
The federal government issued their license to Interim Storage Partners despite local residents’ concern and majority disapproval of the project. Once a favored issue in Texas, now has become opposed by many. One small leak could contaminate the Permian Basin oil industry. SNF stays radioactive for hundreds of millions of years.
Nuclear waste in the oil patch? Feds spark clash with Texas
Though Texas politicians are using this drama as a way to attack federal elected officials, the history of the issue is a bipartisan mess that can be blamed on members of both parties. Regardless, the fight between Texans and the federal agency, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, is being watched by those in the energy sector across America.
Will Texas high-level nuclear waste ban matter to NRC?
After both the Texas House and Texas Senate passed HB 7 in early September, Governor Greg Abbott signed the bill into law. The law bans high-level nuclear waste from the state, with the exception of hospitals and research centers in Texas that produce the waste.
Texas bans storage of highly radioactive waste, but a West Texas facility may get a license from the feds anyway
Thursday, September 9, 2021, Governor Greg Abbott signed House Bill 7 into law. This law bans high-level nuclear waste from entering Texas. It also prohibits the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, or the TCEQ) from issuing state permits for constructing facilities in Texas for HLW storage.
Officials should deny interim storage of high-level waste in Andrews
The majority of spent nuclear fuel is currently located near their reactor sites on the East Coast. Ironically, California officials are leading the fight to dump this waste in the Permian Basin because there is one decommissioned nuclear reactor site in particular they are focused on, San Onofre. Those outside of Texas and New Mexico see these two states as their dumping grounds
An Effort to Bring High-Level Nuclear Waste to West Texas Meets Strong Opposition
Numerous officials, residents, and experts have sounded off in opposition to the high-level waste, the latest significant development seeing the Andrews County Commissioners Court unanimously pass a resolution in opposition to high-level nuclear waste – with commissioners revealing that their constituents overwhelmingly stood in opposition as well.
NM Lawmakers Warned About Carlsbad Nuclear Waste Facility
The concerns with interim storage of spent nuclear fuel in Southeastern New Mexico consist of environmental and social justice impacts. Both Baca and Grisham say that an interim storage site would become a de facto permanent resting place for America’s nuclear waste. There are currently no plans in sight for a permanent deep geological repository in the United States, despite the federal government’s promise to create one over 40 years ago.
Andrews commissioners will sign resolution opposing high-level nuclear waste storage
A packed Special Meeting held by the Andrews County Commissioners’ Court on July 15, 2021 resulted in a vote to draft up a resolution against the interim storage of high-level nuclear waste in Andrews County. Dozens of residents spoke at the meeting, with a large showing of Waste Control Specialists employees and local residents in opposition.