Microsoft Word - NRC.ISP

Governor Greg Abbott opposes the licensing of an Interim Storage Partners (ISP) facility in Andrews County, Texas, citing risks to public safety, national energy security, and the economic stability of the Permian Basin. He argues that the facility would be a high-value target for terrorism and that the lack of a permanent geologic repository makes the 'interim' nature of the storage unreliable. Additionally, he notes that the transportation of radioactive waste would disrupt the region's critical oil and agricultural logistics.

• The proposed facility in Andrews County would store up to 40,000 metric tons of uranium, including spent nuclear fuel and Greater-Than-Class-C waste, in dry cask storage systems on the surface.
• The facility is viewed as a threat to U.S. energy security because its location in the Permian Basin—the world's largest producing oilfield—would make it a prime target for terrorists, potentially causing a radioactive release that could shut down critical oil production.
• Governor Abbott argues that the NRC's Draft Environmental Impact Statement fails to adequately address terrorism risks for this specific site and relies on the unsound assumption that a permanent geologic repository will be developed within the 40-to-60-year license window.
• The transportation of spent nuclear fuel to the site would risk disrupting the movement of oilfield and agricultural commodities in the Permian Basin, particularly in the event of a rail accident.

APA

Environmental and Energy Study Institute (2020). Microsoft Word - NRC.ISP. https://www.eesi.org/files/Letter_to_Nuclear_Regulatory_Commission-Texas_Gov_Abbott_Opposes_Nuclear_Waste_Consolidated_Interim_Storage_Facilities.pdf

Chicago

Environmental and Energy Study Institute. Microsoft Word - NRC.ISP. 2020. https://www.eesi.org/files/Letter_to_Nuclear_Regulatory_Commission-Texas_Gov_Abbott_Opposes_Nuclear_Waste_Consolidated_Interim_Storage_Facilities.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Environmental and Energy Study Institute |title=Microsoft Word - NRC.ISP |date=3 November 2020 |url=https://www.eesi.org/files/Letter_to_Nuclear_Regulatory_Commission-Texas_Gov_Abbott_Opposes_Nuclear_Waste_Consolidated_Interim_Storage_Facilities.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{environmentalandenergystudyinstitute2020microsoft, author = {{Environmental and Energy Study Institute}}, title = {{Microsoft Word - NRC.ISP}}, publisher = {Environmental and Energy Study Institute}, year = {2020}, month = nov, url = {https://www.eesi.org/files/Letter_to_Nuclear_Regulatory_Commission-Texas_Gov_Abbott_Opposes_Nuclear_Waste_Consolidated_Interim_Storage_Facilities.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }