Consolidated “Interim” Storage of High-Level Radioactive Waste-- Prevent a Disaster by Rejecting This Risky Plan

The document argues that consolidated interim storage of high-level radioactive waste is a risky and counterproductive plan that creates unnecessary transportation and security hazards. It highlights two specific license applications—one by Waste Control Specialists in Texas and another by Holtec International in New Mexico—and asserts that these projects face significant legal, technical, and community opposition. The authors claim that such facilities would not accelerate the move to permanent repositories and could instead become de facto permanent sites, while posing severe risks of radiation exposure and economic disaster in the event of a transport accident.

• Consolidated interim storage involves transporting over 100,000 tons of irradiated nuclear fuel across the U.S., which the authors argue is counterproductive and could lead to interim sites becoming de facto permanent repositories.
• The transportation of waste would involve over 10,000 shipments over 20 to 40 years, passing through nearly 90% of Congressional districts and putting 218 million people who live within a half-mile of likely rail lines at risk of exposure.
• Waste Control Specialists (WCS) and ORANO USA have applied to store 40,000 tons of waste in Andrews County, Texas, for an initial 40 years with potential extensions to 100 years, near the Ogallala aquifer.
• Holtec International has applied to store up to 173,000 tons of waste for 40 years, with possible extensions to 120 years, at a site between Hobbs and Carlsbad, New Mexico, where groundwater is present at depths of 35 to 50 feet.
• A 2003 study by Radioactive Waste Management Associates estimated that a severe rail accident involving irradiated fuel could result in 1,370 latent cancer fatalities and costs between $145 billion and $270 billion.
• There is widespread opposition to these plans, including over 70,000 public comments submitted to the NRC and resolutions passed by various counties and cities in Texas and New Mexico.

APA

Environmental and Energy Study Institute (2019). Consolidated “Interim” Storage of High-Level Radioactive Waste-- Prevent a Disaster by Rejecting This Risky Plan. https://www.eesi.org/files/Letter_to_Congress-Groups_Oppose_Nuclear_Waste_Consolidated_Interim_Storage_Facilities.pdf

Chicago

Environmental and Energy Study Institute. Consolidated “Interim” Storage of High-Level Radioactive Waste-- Prevent a Disaster by Rejecting This Risky Plan. 2019. https://www.eesi.org/files/Letter_to_Congress-Groups_Oppose_Nuclear_Waste_Consolidated_Interim_Storage_Facilities.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Environmental and Energy Study Institute |title=Consolidated “Interim” Storage of High-Level Radioactive Waste-- Prevent a Disaster by Rejecting This Risky Plan |date=12 March 2019 |url=https://www.eesi.org/files/Letter_to_Congress-Groups_Oppose_Nuclear_Waste_Consolidated_Interim_Storage_Facilities.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{environmentalandenergystudyinstitute2019consolidated, author = {{Environmental and Energy Study Institute}}, title = {{Consolidated “Interim” Storage of High-Level Radioactive Waste-- Prevent a Disaster by Rejecting This Risky Plan}}, publisher = {Environmental and Energy Study Institute}, year = {2019}, month = mar, url = {https://www.eesi.org/files/Letter_to_Congress-Groups_Oppose_Nuclear_Waste_Consolidated_Interim_Storage_Facilities.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }