Opponents gird for nuclear waste dump battles in New Mexico and Texas

Potential radioactive waste transporation routes to WCS, TX. As Eddy-Lea, NM is close by, the routing to there would be very similar.The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has extended the deadline for public comments on the environmental scoping of Waste Control Specialists' proposed centralized interim storage facility for commercial irradiated nuclear fuel in Andrews County, Texas until April 28th. Please submit comments! You can also make oral comments, on Thurs., April 6 from 7 to 10pm Eastern, during an NRC public comment teleconference/call-in meeting (Bridge Number: (800) 619-9084, Pass Code: 3009542; please register in advance, ASAP, by contacting Ms. Antoinette Walker-Smith at (301) 415-6957, or by email (to <antoinette.walker-smith@nrc.gov>). Please spread the word on these public comment opportunities!

NRC has also just extended the deadline for legal intervention against the WCS de facto permanent high-level radioactive waste parking lot dump, till May 31st; Beyond Nuclear fully intends to intervene, along with a coalition of environmental groups and concerned citizens, not only residing near the dump, but also along transport routes throughout the country. (See map, left; for a larger version, click here.)  

(And this late breaking news: Holtec International has just applied to NRC for a Centralized Interim Storage Facility (CISF) construction and operation license in Eddy-Lea County, Southeastern New Mexico -- just like WCS, TX, and only about 50 miles away! Combined with the Louisiana Energy Services/Uranium Enrichment Corporation, immediately adjacent to WCS, and the Waste Isolation Pilot Project (WIPP, for military trans-uranic waste disposal), close to the Holtec/Eddy-Lea Energy Alliance CISF, the nuclear establishment in government and industry is clearly attempting to turn the area into a nuclear sacrifice zone. Our coalition must rise to the challenge of resisting this latest environmental injustice. Stay tuned for updates as they come in, in the weeks and months ahead.)

Holtec/ELEA apply to NRC for license to open CISF in S.E. NM, near WIPP, URENCO, & WCS!

As announced by a Holtec International press release, Holtec and the Eddy-Lea [Counties] Energy Alliance (ELEA) have just applied to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for a Centralized Interim Storage Facility (CISF) construction and operation license in Southeastern New Mexico.

The Holtec-ELEA CISF would be very similar to the CISF proposed by Waste Control Specialists, LLC (WCS) in Andrews County, TX, only about 50 miles away!

Combined with the Louisiana Energy Services/Uranium Enrichment Corporation (LES/URENCO), immediately adjacent to WCS, and the Waste Isolation Pilot Project (WIPP, for military trans-uranic waste disposal), close to the Holtec/Eddy-Lea Energy Alliance CISF, the nuclear establishment in government and industry is clearly attempting to turn the local area into a nuclear sacrifice zone. Our coalition must rise to the challenge of resisting this latest environmental injustice, or radioactive racism, targeted at an area with a large Latin American population, as well as a significant poverty rate.

Stay tuned for updates as they come in, in the weeks and months ahead.

Update on April 5, 2017 by admin

On Wed., April 5th, Holtec and ELEA held a press conference announcing their application to open a CISF in S.E. NM. The press conference was held in Room 2220 of the Rayburn House Office Building, in the Energy and Commerce Committee area.

Beyond Nuclear attended the press conference. Beyond Nuclear had prepared a press statement, and handed it out to the small number of reporters in attendance.

Update on April 7, 2017 by admin

The Exchange Monitor has reported on this story (please note, the article is behind a pay wall).

Update on April 8, 2017 by admin

The Santa Fe New Mexican has reported on this story.

Thursday, April 6, 7-10pm Eastern, NRC public comment mtg. on WCS CISF; please pre-register with NRC by 4/3

As posted at the website of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC):

[Please note that folks from around the country can call-in to this meeting, those close enough to NRC HQ in Rockville, MD can also attend in person -- please do so if you are able, and please spread the word!]

Purpose

To conduct a public scoping meeting for the NRC’s Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Waste Control Specialist LLC (WCS) license application to construct and operate a consolidated interim storage facility (CISF) for spent nuclear fuel at the WCS site in Andrews County, Texas. At the meeting, the NRC will receive comments from the public on the appropriate scope of issues to be considered in, and the content of the EIS.

Meeting Dates and Times

[Thursday] 04/06/17
7:00PM - 10:00PM [Eastern]

Meeting Location

NRC One White Flint North
11555 Rockville Pike
Commission Hearing Room
Rockville MD

Contact

James Park
301-415-6954

Participation Level

Category 3

NRC Participants

NRC Staff

External Participants

Public

Docket Numbers - Facility Names

07201050 - Waste Control Specialists LLC

Related Documents

ML17072A248 - 04/06/2017 PUBLIC SCOPING MEETING FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT FOR WASTE CONTROL SPECIALISTS LLCS APPLICATION FOR A CONSOLIDATED INTERIM STORAGE FACILITY FOR SPENT NUCLEAR FUEL, ANDREWS COUNTY, TEXAS

Teleconference

Bridge Number: 8006199084
Passcode: 3009542

Comments

Members of the public who will attend the meeting in person, and those wishing to present oral comments may register in advance by contacting Ms. Antoinette Walker-Smith at (301) 415-6957, or by email to Antoinette.Walker-Smith@nrc.gov, no later than April 3, 2017. Those comments may be limited by the time available, depending on the number of persons who wish to speak. Please provide name and company or organization for each attendee. Arrive 30 minutes early to allow time for security registration.

Still time to take action against parking lot dump/Mobile Chernobyl: Comments needed

Potential highly radioactive irradiated nuclear fuel shipment routes from atomic reactors to WCS, TX.Thanks to everyone who has taken action, and submitted public comments to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) in opposition to the proposed Waste Control Specialists (WCS) centralized interim storage facility in Andrews, TX. The environmentally unjust, de facto permanent, parking lot dump, would put the Ogallala Aquifer at risk, and would launch thousands of Mobile Chernobyl truck, train, and/or barge shipments through most states, past the homes of millions of people (see potential shipment route map, left, or here for an enlarged version). We have secured an extension for environmental scoping public comments, till April 28th, so please keep submitting them, and spread the word. You can fill out/submit Public Citizen & NIRS web forms, and use Beyond Nuclear and/or SEED Coalition sample comments, to prepare your own for submission.

Also, see how your two U.S. Senators voted on former Texas governor Rick Perry's confirmation for Energy Secretary, and take action, here. Please use the sample letters provided to thank your Senator if he/she voted against Perry's confirmation, or to "spank" your Senator if he/she voted for Perry's confirmation. (Sample call-in scripts are also provided.) Perry not only has a blatant conflict of interest with WCS (see articles in Counterpunch and Mother Jones), putting at risk billions of dollars of taxpayer funding, as well as public health, safety, and the environment, but he was also a member of the boards of directors of Energy Transfer Partners and Sunoco Logistics, the companies behind the highly controversial Dakota Access Pipeline, until resigning his positions just before his Senate confirmation hearing. Please let your Senators know how you feel about Perry's radioactive crony capitalism and dirty oil pay-to-play politics, and urge they now address his conflicts of interest. More.

Take Action Against WCS De Facto Permanent Parking Lot Dump in West Texas!

See the Public Citizen web form action alert;

See the Nuclear Information and Resource Service (NIRS) web form action alert;

See Beyond Nuclear's (and SEED Coalition of TX's) action alert (sample comments you can use to write your own).

Comments had been due by March 13th, but the deadline has now been extended to April 28th. However, please comment ASAP, and more than once, if you have time, on multiple of the many facets of this issue!