EnergySolutions Denying WCS Use of Type-A Shipping Containers

EnergySolutions has prohibited the use of its type-A casks from shipping waste to Waste Control Specialists, WCS President and CEO Rod Baltzer said yesterday in an interview with WC Morning Briefing. The cessation of WCS cask shipments caused delivery delays for the West Texas company in the second quarter, resulting in a $8.1 million operating loss for the quarter. “When we started, one of our competitors took the type-B casks out from use, so it seemed obvious we needed to fill that gap, as they mainly went to us,” Baltzer said. “So we bought the Robatel casks and have been utilizing those. Recently, that same competitor took their type-A casks and decided they would not ship those to WCS as well. So, we have entered into that type-A market. It took us a little bit, but we have long-term leases for some [TAG Technical Services] casks that are type-As. We are now providing that solution to our customers as well and making us more self-sufficient for shipping.”

 

EnergySolutions and WCS are currently embattled in a legal dispute over alleged “monopolistic behavior” by WCS for refusing to enter into a disposal contract to take EnergySolutions’ Semprasafe-produced down-blended Class B and C low-level radioactive waste. EnergySolution is alleging anti-competitive conduct from WCS for trying to harm a competitor to maintain its monopoly standing. EnergySolutions did not respond for requests for comment yesterday on the reason for the type-A shipping canister stoppage.