State legislation that would ban storage of high-level radioactive waste in New Mexico was scheduled for a final committee vote on Wednesday.
Senate Bill 53, sponsored by state Sen. Jeff Steinborn (D) was on the agenda for a Wednesday meeting of the New Mexico House Judiciary Committee, which was scheduled to begin at 3:30 p.m. Eastern time.
The bill would ban construction of spent fuel storage facilities in New Mexico if the state has now “consented to or concurred” with their construction. The measure would threaten Holtec International’s plans to construct an interim storage facility for spent nuclear fuel in Eddy County, N.M., the company said last week at an industry gathering.
The New Mexico House Judiciary Committee would be the bill’s last stop before a vote on the House floor. The state Senate passed the bill on Feb. 13.
This is Steinborn’s third attempt to get a repository ban through the legislature. New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan-Grisham (D) said last year she would sign the previous version of Steinborn’s bill.
