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Concerns Over Proposed Nuclear Waste Storage Facility in New Mexico

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The proposed HI-STORE Consolidated Interim Storage Facility (CISF) in Lea County, New Mexico, has raised significant concerns among experts and the public. The facility, which would store high-level spent nuclear fuel and other radioactive materials, has been met with opposition due to the potential risks it poses to human health, the environment, and the local ecosystem.

Key Takeaways:

  • The safety and stability of the proposed site have not been adequately assessed, according to Dr. Rebecca M. Summer, a citizen of New Mexico and a member of the Expert Scientist Team for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) at Sandia Labs in 1995.
  • The WIPP (Waste Isolation Pilot Plant) in nearby Eddy County, New Mexico, has a history of radioactive material releases and accidents, including the 2014 incident where a chemical reaction contaminated nearly two dozen workers.
  • The proposed CISF would store high-level radioactive materials, including spent nuclear fuel, which is not stored at WIPP and requires stricter radiation protection measures.
  • The facility's proximity to WIPP and the local ecosystem has raised concerns about the potential risks of radioactive contamination and the impact on human health.
  • Dr. Summer notes that the land used to store high-level radioactive wastes cannot be used by humans for 2-3 million years, and the dry arid climate and connected ecosystems in New Mexico require special consideration.
  • A letter from Rebecca M. Summer to the NRC on June 24, 2020, expresses concerns about the safety and risks associated with the proposed CISF.

Statistics:

  • 2-3 million years: the estimated time required for radioactive decay to make the land safe for human use.
  • 1995: the year Dr. Rebecca M. Summer was part of the Expert Scientist Team for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) at Sandia Labs.
  • 1998: the year the WIPP facility was certified by the NRC for 10,000 years for the storage of low-activity radioactive wastes (LARW).
  • 2013: the year the Los Alamos nuclear lab stuffed the wrong kind of kitty litter into a waste drum, leading to a radioactive material release at WIPP.
  • 2014: the year a chemical reaction at WIPP released radioactive material, contaminating nearly two dozen workers.
  • 6 (six) WIPP workers were hospitalized as a result of the 2013 accident.

Sources:

  • Email from Rebecca M. Summer to the NRC on June 24, 2020 (n.a. 2020).
  • Christian Science Monitor (2017). "New Mexico's nuclear waste dump: Is it safe?"
  • U.S. DOE Accident Investigation Report Phase 2, Radiological Release at WIPP (2015).
  • Carlsbad Current-Argus (2019). "Ruined for good by kitty litter?"
  • Federal Register Notice: 85FR16150 (2020).

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