Antinuclear

Producers in various industries spoke against a proposal to build a temporary nuclear waste facility near Carlsbad and Hobbs, during the initial meeting of a bicameral committee of New Mexico State lawmakers intended to study and provide oversight of the state’s nuclear activities.

Holtec International filed an application with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission in March 2017, and the application was accepted one year later, sparking outcry from across the state and west Texas.

The proposed project, under a 40-year license, would allow Holtec to temporarily store about 100,000 metric tons of spent nuclear fuel rods taken from nuclear generators across the country.

The waste would be transported by rail, and stored underground in casks about 30 feet deep.

It would be kept at the Holtec site, about 35 miles between Carlsbad and Hobbs, until being transported to a permanent repository.

“This is a very consequential project for New Mexico,” said State Sen. Jeff Steinborn (D-36), who chaired the committee during Thursday’s meeting. This is not just a New Mexico issue. This is a very big deal. There are big policy issues we need to ask as well. The question is, who are the stakeholders in this project? The answer is all New Mexicans. All of us could have this going past our house.”

Opponents feared the facility could become a permanent repository, as no other such facility exists besides a repository at Yucca Mountain, Nevada, which stalled after federal funding was cut amid opposition from Nevada lawmakers.

Many also questioned the need to move the waste without a permanent repository being developed.

“As far as I understand, before the federal government can license an interim site, there has to be a permanent site,” Steinborn said. “It has the feel of putting the cart before the horse, especially for the people of New Mexico.”

………That could come at a massive cost if there is a leak or incident at the proposed facility, said Linda Squire, a dairy farmer from Hagerman who spoke at the meeting.

She said a radiological event could cripple the local dairy industry, which she argued generates 17,000 area jobs and is an essential part of the region’s economy.

“We are very concerned about a worst-case scenario. Bad things can happen if you let your guard down,” Squire said. “If there were a worse-case scenario, the beef would be unsaleable, the milk would be unsaleable. Most of the dairies in our area wouldn’t have located there if they knew this was a possibility.”.……https://www.currentargus.com/story/news/local/2018/05/19/new-mexico-state-lawmakers-bicameral-committee-oversight-nuclear-waste-holtec/625264002/