Beyond Nuclear

NEWS FROM THE NEW MEXICO U.S. CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION:

CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION NEWS

U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich and Ben Ray Luján, and U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury and New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham sent a letter to U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm opposing the interim storage of spent nuclear fuel (SNF) and high-level waste (HLW) in New Mexico.

“We are strongly opposed to the interim storage of spent nuclear fuel (SNF) and high-level waste (HLW) in New Mexico. There is currently no permanent disposal strategy for SNF and HLW in place at the Department of Energy. This leaves us extremely concerned that ‘interim’ storage sites with initial 40-year leases, like one proposed for Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) licensing in New Mexico, will become the country’s de facto permanent nuclear waste storage facilities. We cannot accept that result,” they wrote.

There are currently two pending applications before the NRC for licenses to construct and operate consolidated interim storage facilities (CISFs) - one in Andrews, Texas, and one in Lea County, New Mexico.

“Without a strategy in place at the Department of Energy for permanent waste disposal, any CISF constructed in or near New Mexico could become a waste storage site that is, in essence, permanent. New Mexico has not and will not consent to such a situation,” they continued.

The New Mexico lawmakers cautioned that, “We cannot repeat such harms by establishing interim nuclear waste storage sites, especially without a permanent waste disposal strategy. We would welcome collaborative work to establish a coherent, consent-based federal policy on managing and disposing of SNF and HLW, and look forward to engaging in that work with you.”

Last month, Senator Heinrich raised his concerns about interim storage directly with Secretary Granholm during a Senate Energy and Natural Resources hearing to review the President’s Fiscal Year 2022 budget request for the U.S. Department of Energy.

The full text of the letter is available here, and at this link.

Update on July 2, 2021 by

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CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION NEWS

Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernández (NM-03), a member of the House Committee on Natural Resources, joined the New Mexico delegation to urge the Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm to oppose the interim storage of spent nuclear fuel and high-level waste in New Mexico.

She highlights in a letter sent to Secretary Granholm that New Mexicans have repeatedly and emphatically opposed the proposed storage site and many of her constituents are familiar with the harmful effects of nuclear testing and waste as they continue to suffer from related health ailments.

Read the full text of the letter below:

Dear Secretary Granholm:

Thank you for your commitment to public service. I write to join the voices of the New Mexico congressional delegation to oppose the interim storage of spent nuclear fuel and high-level waste in New Mexico.

As you know, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is currently considering two applications for licenses to construct and operate a consolidated interim storage facility (“CISF”). One of these sites is in my home state of New Mexico in Lea County and the other in Andrews County, Texas. I strongly oppose the placement of an interim storage site in New Mexico. My constituents, and citizens throughout New Mexico, have repeatedly and emphatically expressed opposition to the proposed storage site.

New Mexicans have long led the nation in scientific discoveries and national security, and we recognize the importance of our national laboratories. However, we are also uniquely familiar with the harmful effects of nuclear testing and waste. Many of my constituents continue to suffer from serious health ailments related to such testing and waste. I must raise my voice in opposition to the establishment of an interim nuclear waste storage site, which would add to the burden we already carry.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.