Interim Storage Partners, LLC – WCS Consolidated Interim Storage Facility (Issuance of Materials License SNM-2515)

YEAR
2026
SOURCE ORGANIZATION
GEOGRAPHY

Document Summary

This Federal Register notice is an official announcement by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) that it has issued a federal license to Interim Storage Partners (ISP). The license authorizes the company to build and operate a consolidated interim storage facility (CISF) for spent nuclear fuel in Andrews County, Texas.

The notice also confirms that the NRC completed its environmental review and published a Record of Decision (ROD) supporting the project.

This document is not just informational; it is a formal federal action with legal effect.

  • It confirms that the NRC issued Materials License No. SNM-2515, which legally authorizes an ISP to construct, operate, and manage a storage facility for high-level radioactive waste.
  • The license allows storage of up to 5,000 metric tons of spent nuclear fuel for up to 40 years, subject to strict conditions.
  • It incorporates the NRC’s environmental and safety findings, including compliance with federal regulations (10 C.F.R. Part 72) and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
  • The accompanying Record of Decision satisfies federal legal requirements and documents the agency’s reasoning, alternatives considered, and basis for approval.

In short, this notice marks the point at which a proposed project becomes federally approved, at least from the NRC’s licensing standpoint.

WHY THIS MATTERS

This Federal Register notice confirms that nuclear waste storage in West Texas is no longer theoretical-it has been federally approved. For Protect the Basin, this moment represents a shift from planning to implementation, raising urgent questions about consent, state authority, and long-term risk. The license was issued despite opposition from Texas leaders, highlighting the tension between federal decision-making and local control. What follows will determine whether this approval becomes a lasting reality.

Key Excerpts

“The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has issued Materials License No. SNM-2515 to Interim Storage Partners, LLC.” – Page 1

“The license authorizes the storage of spent nuclear fuel at a consolidated interim storage facility in Andrews County, Texas.” – Page 1

“The Commission has determined that the application meets the applicable standards and requirements.” – Page 2

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CITATION

Interim Storage Partners, LLC; WCS Consolidated Interim Storage Facility; Issuance of Materials License, 86 Fed. Reg. 51921 (Sept. 17, 2021).

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