The Nuclear Regulatory Commission said Monday it expects shortly to decide on a request from New Mexico’s congressional delegation for more time to submit comments on a key document for a planned spent nuclear fuel storage facility in the state.
“An announcement should come soon,” agency spokesman David McIntyre said by email.
In a draft environmental impact statement issued earlier this month, NRC staff preliminary recommended licensing Holtec International’s proposed consolidated interim storage facility in Lea County. It determined the site’s environmental effects would mostly be small across areas such as air quality, land use, geology and soils, and groundwater.
Comments are being accepted through May 22. Public meetings are also planned in New Mexico, but dates and locations have not been announced.
“In response to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, we urge the Commission to delay any public meetings and to extend the 60-day public comment period regarding the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Holtec’s proposed spent nuclear fuel storage facility in Southeast New Mexico,” New Mexico’s two senators and three representatives, all Democrats, wrote in a March 20 letter to NRC Chairman Kristine Svinicki.
Public input is crucial in matters involving nuclear waste, according to the lawmakers. The Holtec project raises potential impacts to health, safety, and the environment in the state, ranging from its economy to Native American communities, they wrote.
The draft environmental impact statement is scheduled to be finalized next March. The document, along with a separate safety report, would be used in determining whether to approve the Holtec license.
The 40-year license would initially cover underground storage of up to 8,680 metric tons of used fuel in 500 canisters, but could be amended to eventually cover more than 170,000 metric tons of radioactive material in 10,000 canisters.
“We respectfully urge you to extend the public comment period until the threat of covid-19 has passed and it is again safe to attend public meetings,” the New Mexico delegation’s letter says.
The signatories were Sens. Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich and Reps. Ben Ray Lujan, Deb Haaland, and Xochitl Torres Small.
On Monday, the New Mexico Department of Health said there were 83 confirmed cases of the respiratory disease in the state. No deaths have been reported.
