Supreme Court Revives Nuclear Waste Storage Plans in Texas and New Mexico
In a significant ruling on Wednesday, the U.S. Supreme Court reinstated plans for temporary nuclear waste storage facilities in rural Texas and New Mexico amidst ongoing challenges for a permanent solution. The justices voted 6-3 to overturn a previous decision by a federal appeals court that had invalidated licenses granted by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to a private company for these facilities.
This ruling clears a major hurdle for the projects, allowing for the potential storage of up to 5,500 tons of spent nuclear fuel and vast amounts of other radioactive materials. The facilities, expected to operate for 40 years with the option for renewal, would address the impending crisis as nearly 100,000 tons of spent fuel, some dating back to the 1980s, accumulate at various nuclear sites nationwide—growing by over 2,000 tons annually.
The NRC has emphasized the necessity of these temporary sites, noting that existing nuclear plants are reaching capacity for spent fuel storage. The decision comes despite bipartisan opposition from Texas and New Mexico’s governors—Greg Abbott and Michelle Lujan Grisham, respectively—who have voiced concerns about the safety and risks associated with storing nuclear waste in their states.
Currently stalled plans for a permanent underground facility at Yucca Mountain in Nevada further exacerbate the dilemma, as local opposition continues to block progress. The ruling aligns with appeals from both the Biden and Trump administrations advocating for the interim facilities—Intended to operate alongside an existing low-level waste dump in Andrews County, Texas, and another facility in Lea County, New Mexico.
The Supreme Court’s ruling marks a pivotal step forward in addressing the nation’s nuclear waste management challenges, even as long-term solutions remain elusive.
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