The New Mexico State Land Office issued an executive order Sept. 4 that would ban any new uranium mining activities in the state.
The order, issued by New Mexico Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard, pushes for the state agency to prioritize nuclear cleanup at legacy uranium sites, according to a press statement. It will also push for the uranium industry and federal government to address the state’s legacy complications caused by uranium production.
The state holds the second-largest uranium reserve in the United States, behind Wyoming, with Grants, N.M. becoming one of the most prominent uranium ores, known as the Grants Minerals Belt. While New Mexico produced a lot of uranium in the 1950s, by the late 1990s it completely stopped uranium ore mining.
International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said in a Monday speech small modular reactors (SMRs) are garnering interest from various countries due to its affordability and reliability, especially for smaller grids.
Grossi, speaking at IAEA’s General Conference, said while the technology is enticing, standardization of SMR designs and regulatory standards need to be “harmonized” in order to bring the technology to market. He said that IAEA’s Nuclear Harmonization and Standardization program, introduced last year, has launched a multi-nation pre-licensing pilot program for SMRs.
As many countries seek for SMRs to power their electric grids, Grossi said countries also have interest in SMR technology for maritime purposes and could use the technology to power ships. IAEA held a conference in Washington, D.C. in late August exploring nuclear power’s integration in the maritime industry.
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has unveiled a new website design this week in an effort to be more “user-friendly”.
“This initiative is part of our ongoing commitment to providing visitors with the best possible experience,” NRC said in an emailed statement. “The redesigned site will feature an intuitive layout, streamlined navigation, and improved accessibility options for all users.”