Carlsbad Current-Argus
East coast nuclear power plants are getting ready to send their waste to southeast New Mexico as they are shut down.
Holtec International recently acquired licenses to decommission multiple plants as it proceeds through a licensing process to build and operate a facility to temporary store spent nuclear fuel rods near the Eddy County-Lea County line.
The ongoing license application for the first phase of the project before the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission, would allow Holtec to store 500 cannisters at the site – or about 8,000 metric tons – of spent fuel, but the company expects up to 20 more phases as capacity is needed.
The fuel would be transported via rail from generator sites from across the U.S. to be stored in New Mexico until a permanent repository is operational.
A proposed permanent facility used to dispose of the waste deep underground at Yucca Mountain, Nevada was stalled by state and federal lawmakers, which drew criticism from environmental groups that the Holtec site could become permanent for lack of another resting place for the waste.
On Nov. 25, Holtec announced it had been approved by the NRC to acquire to decommission the three-reactor Indian Point Energy Center in Buchanan, New York.
Last year, Holtec also acquired licenses to decommission the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station in Plymouth, Massachusetts and the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station in New Jersey.
Indian Point was expected to close in April 2021, leaving Holtec responsible for the site’s assets and its decommissioning while reaching a compact with state and local authorities and negotiations were underway, per a Holtec news release.
The company believed it could lever its past work at the Oyster Creek and Pilgrim facilities and other successes using its Holtec Decommissioning Model.
“We will continue our ongoing discussions with elected officials, which have been characterized by amicable and transparent dialog to further our shared goal of achieving a repurposed site that supports new jobs and increased tax revenue,” said Pamela Cowan, senior vice president at Holtec Decommissioning International.
Holtec expects to transfer the used fuel from cooling pools at the plant to a nearby facility within about two years of Indian Point’s decommissioning.
The Link LonkDecember 22, 2020 at 11:53AM
https://www.abqjournal.com/1529028/east-coast-nuke-plants-to-send-waste-to-nm.html
East Coast nuke plants to send waste to NM - Albuquerque Journal
https://news.google.com/search?q=Send&hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en
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