Holtec International plans next month to submit a letter of intent to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission regarding its proposal to construct a spent nuclear fuel consolidated interim storage facility in southeastern New Mexico, Holtec Vice President and Chief Nuclear Officer Pierre Oneid said Wednesday during a Nuclear Energy Insider webinar entitled “Consolidated Interim Storage Facilities.” Oneid outlined an ambitious timeline for the project that would put the facility’s opening date at mid-2020— just ahead of the Waste Control Specialist proposed interim storage facility planned start date at the end of 2020. The schedule includes submitting the application to the NRC by June 2016, issuing a safety evaluation report by November 2018, receiving NRC approval by February 2019, and beginning construction by mid-2019.
But first, Holtec must submit its letter of intent. “As of this morning, we have our first draft for the letter of intent to the NRC circulating throughout Holtec,” Oneid said. “So, we will submit that to the NRC basically requesting the NRC spent fuel management office to open a part 72 docket, which will serve as the letter of intent. This letter will make it to the NRC in August.” The Eddy Lea Energy Alliance announced earlier this year that the group of local communities had entered into a memorandum of agreement with Holtec to construct an interim storage facility. Under the terms of the agreement, the ELEA will provide land and local logistics support including existing environmental characterization data; meanwhile, Holtec will design the facility, perform all necessary safety evaluations, secure Nuclear Regulatory Commission approvals, and build and operate the facility. The group has the support of the communities near the planned facility and the state governor, Susana Martinez, but New Mexico’s U.S. senators both have voiced their opposition to the plan.
