Can States Use the Nuclear Waste Policy Act as a Shield Against Commercial Interim Storage? Two Experts Say 'No'

摘要

Southwestern host states probably cannot stop construction of temporary spent-fuel depots in their territories by arguing that licensing such sites is against federal law, a couple of retired nuclear policy hands opined this week.Pending a few more reviews, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission could license Interim Storage Partners’ proposed commercial interim storage facility in west Texas by September and a similar site proposed by Holtec International in southeastern New Mexico by January. If built, the privately operated sites would become the only places in the U.S. able to consolidate — not indefinitely — spent fuel from multiple power plants.