The Nuclear Regulatory Commission voted unanimously Wednesday to affirm its decision to deny a minerals holding company’s request to reconsider objections to a proposed interim storage facility for spent nuclear fuel.
The afternoon vote place via teleconference closes the book on Fasken Land and Minerals’ appeal to reopen agency proceedings on Holtec International’s proposed consolidated interim storage facility in southeastern New Mexico. All four current commissioners, including chairman Christopher Hanson, voted to affirm their previous decision.
NRC’s affirmation may also move things along in an ongoing case against the agency filed by a coalition of advocacy groups in D.C.’s court of appeals. The court proceedings were placed on hold April 21, pending the commission’s decision on Fasken’s appeal. All parties are expected to submit a status report to the court Thursday, according to the docket.
At press time Thursday morning NRC hadn’t submitted any new information for the record.
Meanwhile, Holtec’s proposed site is one step closer to licensing following the affirmation. An environmental impact statement, which the commission has said won’t be done until the summer, could be another major hurdle standing in the way of a federal license to build the facility.
