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Independent regulatory commissions

Nuclear Regulatory Commission Faces Criticism Over Radioactive Waste Storage Proposal

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has been criticized by environmentalists and community leaders over a proposed plan to store 40,000 tons of spent nuclear fuel in Andrews County, Texas. The plan, which is part of the Interim Storage Project, would target a largely Latinx region of the country, posing significant health and safety risks to millions of people. Critics argue that the proposal is an attempt to create a permanent facility for radioactive waste, despite the fact that the NRC has ignored key health and safety issues raised in thousands of previous comments and 100 legal contentions.

Key Takeaways:

  • The proposed Consolidated Interim Storage Facility (CISF) would store 40,000 tons of spent nuclear fuel in Andrews County, Texas, for 40 years or potentially forever.
  • The region is prone to earthquakes, sinkholes, temperature extremes, wildfires, intense storms, and flooding, making it unsuitable for storing nuclear waste.
  • The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has ignored key health and safety issues raised in thousands of previous comments and 100 legal contentions.
  • The inadequate Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) fails to address concerns about the facility's design and potential risks, including the lack of a hot cell, inadequate storage for cracked or leaking canisters, and inadequate consideration of terrorism threats.
  • Hardened Onsite Storage Systems (HOSS) were not considered as an alternative to Consolidated Interim Storage, and transportation routes were not designated, artificially minimizing accident risks.
  • A single small accident at the proposed facility could permanently contaminate 42 square miles of land, and a rail accident with spent nuclear fuel could result in 1,370 latent cancer fatalities and costs of $145-$270 billion.
  • The DEIS fails to adequately analyze cumulative impacts of the proposed facility and nearby sites on workers, local people, and the environment.
  • The proposal raises significant environmental justice concerns, as it would disproportionately impact a largely Latinx region of the country.
  • Businesses at risk include pecan growers, the ranching and dairy industries, and the oil and gas industry.

Statistics:

  • 40,000 tons of spent nuclear fuel would be stored in Andrews County, Texas.
  • 42 square miles of land could be permanently contaminated in the event of a small accident at the proposed facility.
  • 1,370 latent cancer fatalities could result from a rail accident with spent nuclear fuel.
  • $145-$270 billion in costs could result from a severe accident involving spent nuclear fuel.
  • Thousands of previous comments and 100 legal contentions have been raised regarding the facility's design and potential risks.
  • 5,323 square miles of land would be at risk of contamination from the proposed facility, according to the State of Nevada Yucca Mountain studies.

Sources:

  • United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS), Docket No. 72-1050; NRC-2016-0231 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.
  • Georgena Askew, [External_Sender], Halt the license for radioactive waste storage, August 11, 2020.
  • Federal Register Notice: 85FR27447.

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