This document is the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s (NRC) Record of Decision (ROD) for the proposed Interim Storage Partners (ISP) consolidated interim storage facility in Andrews County, Texas. A Record of Decision is the federal government’s final step under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) after completing an Environmental Impact Statement. It explains the agency’s decision and why.
The ROD follows the NRC’s earlier environmental review of the project, which would allow a private company to store large amounts of spent nuclear fuel in above-ground canisters at a centralized site.
What it does legally:
This document is not just informational; it formalizes the NRC’s decision-making position.
- It satisfies federal regulations requiring a clear, public explanation of the agency’s decision after an environmental review (10 C.F.R. § 51.102).
- It identifies the NRC staff’s preferred alternative and approves the project under specific conditions, based on the environmental analysis already completed.
- It becomes part of the official administrative record that supports the NRC’s licensing decision under federal law.
However, the ROD itself does not grant the license. Instead, it provides the legal justification and rationale that the NRC relies on when issuing (or defending) a license decision.
