Supreme Court Revives Nuclear Waste Storage Plans
Washington, D.C. — The U.S. Supreme Court has breathed new life into plans for temporary nuclear waste storage in rural Texas and New Mexico, despite ongoing national debates over a permanent disposal solution. In a decisive 6-3 ruling on Wednesday, the Court reversed a federal appeals decision that had invalidated licenses from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for a facility in southwest Texas, operated by Interim Storage Partners.
This decision is crucial for managing the nation’s growing nuclear waste crisis, which currently sees around 100,000 tons of spent fuel accumulating at former and active nuclear plant sites. The waste pile increases annually by over 2,000 tons, unable to move to planned deep underground locations due to stalled projects such as the controversial Yucca Mountain facility in Nevada.
The Texas facility, near Andrews County, will enable the storage of up to 5,500 tons of spent fuel rods and additional radioactive materials. The NRC’s authorization also extends to a planned site in southeastern New Mexico, awarded to Holtec International. Both facilities are licensed for a duration of 40 years with potential renewals.
While the Supreme Court’s decision clears a significant hurdle, it does not signify a final approval for the licenses, and opposition remains. Bipartisan resistance has emerged, including concerns voiced by Texas Governor Greg Abbott and New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham. The Biden administration supported the NRC’s appeal to the Supreme Court, which follows similar efforts from the Trump administration.
As the nation grapples with nuclear waste management, proponents argue that temporary storage sites are essential for the current operational viability of existing nuclear power plants and for future plant decommissioning processes.
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