Plan to Store Spent Nuclear Fuel in New Mexico Takes
Major Step
04/29/2015 | Gail Reitenbach
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With plans for a “permanent”
solution for storing waste from nuclear power generating plants permanently
stalled, some are hoping that an “interim” site can be developed that would
enable the removal of spent nuclear fuel from plant sites. Today, Holtec
International and two New Mexico counties announced a memorandum of agreement
to build such a facility in the southeast corner of the state.
POWER
reported on the groundwork plans for the project yesterday. They included the involvement of New Mexico Governor
Susana Martinez (R).
The agreement between Holtec and the
Eddy Lea Energy Alliance has Holtec responsible for the design, licensing,
construction, and operation of an interim used fuel storage facility modeled on
Holtec’s
HI-STORM UMAX storage system, according to a press release by the
Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI). That storage system stores high-level
radioactive waste in steel and concrete containers below ground. The agreement
would develop an interim site “to store all of the used nuclear fuel produced
in the United States and all canisters currently licensed in dry storage in the
country.”
NEI Senior Vice President for
Governmental Affairs Alex Flint told those present at the Albuquerque
announcement: “The nuclear industry has tremendous respect for the political
leaders in New Mexico, who for years have been at the forefront of
understanding nuclear issues. Where others see challenges, they see
opportunities. That has been New Mexico’s history since the beginning of the
nuclear era. This is one more example of New Mexicans who see an opportunity to
lead by creating a valuable business.
The Albuquerque Journal quoted Holtec President and CEO Kris Singh as saying the
site is an ideal location for the project: “New Mexico has excellent terrain, a
dry climate, and a very deep water table,” Singh said. “There’s not a blade of
grass growing in that area. It’s a great place for a safe and secure storage
facility.”
New Mexico is home to two national
laboratories with long histories of nuclear technology work, Los Alamos and
Sandia, as well as the currently closed Waste Isolation Pilot Plant, which
stores waste from the nation’s military nuclear sector.
—Gail Reitenbach, PhD, is POWER’s editor (@GailReit, @POWERmagazine)
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