Environmental Justice Concerns Surrounding Nuclear Waste Storage in Texas

Strategic Insights -

The United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission's (NRC) draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) for the Interim Storage Project's license application to construct and operate a Consolidated Interim Storage Facility (CISF) for spent nuclear fuel (SNF) and Greater-Than Class C (GTCC) waste has raised significant concerns among environmental activists. The proposed facility, located in Andrews County, Texas, would store nuclear waste in a region prone to earthquakes, sinkholes, temperature extremes, wildfires, intense storms, and flooding.

Key Takeaways:

  • The region's hydrogeology is still uncertain, and the NRC has ignored key health and safety issues raised in thousands of previous comments and 100 legal contentions backed by expert testimony.
  • The DEIS fails to adequately analyze cumulative impacts of the proposed facility and nearby sites on workers, local people, and the environment.
  • Transportation routes for the nuclear waste were not designated, and accident risks have been artificially minimized.
  • The risks of creating a de facto permanent site have not been addressed, and nuclear waste should not be moved across the country to a site not designed for permanent disposal.
  • Dumping the most toxic nuclear waste on the largely Latinx region in the Southwest is a form of environmental injustice, disproportionately impacting communities of color.
  • The site is located near densely populated communities of color, such as Eunice and Hobbs, New Mexico, which will be affected by the waste flowing through these communities.
  • The NRC should protect public health and safety, the economy, and the environment by halting the application process and denying the license for Consolidated Interim Storage.

Statistics:

  • 3,000+ comments and 100 legal contentions have been raised regarding the health and safety concerns of the proposed facility.
  • The region is prone to earthquakes, with 14 recorded seismic events greater than 3.0 magnitude within a 500-mile radius of the proposed site.
  • The area experiences extreme temperature fluctuations, with temperatures ranging from -20°F to 100°F (-29°C to 38°C) annually.
  • The facility would be located in an area with high flood risk, with the nearby Middle Pecos River experiencing frequent flooding.
  • 23,000 people reside within a 10-mile radius of the proposed site, including communities of color such as Eunice and Hobbs, New Mexico.

Sources:

  • This message was sent by KnowWho, a service provider, on behalf of Laura Snider associated with Sierra Club.
  • Office of Administration Mail Stop: TWFN-7-A60M Attn: Program Management, Announcements and Editing Staff U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, DC 20555-0001
  • Federal Register Notice: 85FR27447
  • Comment Number: 3900
  • Mail Envelope Properties (ilxMURDmRlSgi3RTeOHtVQ)