Holtec praises high court ruling, but hurdles remain for N.M. spent fuel project

The recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling affirming the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s authority to license consolidated interim storage, clears the way for Holtec to move forward on a spent fuel storage site in New Mexico, according to the company.

At the same time, however, Holtec said last week major issues remain to be worked out both with New Mexico and the Department of Energy.

 “We applaud the US Supreme Court’s decision in consolidated case NRC v. Texas and Interim Storage Partners v. Texas which affirmed NRC’s authority to license private used nuclear facilities,” Holtec said in a June 19 statement.

“This ruling is expected to reinstate our license in New Mexico to build and commission our HI-STORE Consolidated Interim Storage Facility (CISF) and will allow us to move forward to engage with the state of New Mexico and the US Department of Energy (USDOE) on starting this nationally significant project,” Holtec said.

“The joyous news,” is tempered by some thorny realities, Holtec went on to say. “New Mexico’s acquiescence is necessary which, despite overwhelming local support, is not assured at the state level. Also, USDOE’s concurrence to pay for the cost of transporting the fuel and storing it at HI-STORE is not yet a settled matter.”

NRC licensed the planned consolidated interim storage facility in 2023. The commission issued Holtec a 40-year license. The prior year NRC found the facility would cause no significant environmental harm.