States push back on licenses for private storage of nuclear waste
Idaho, Michigan, New Mexico and Utah are supporting Texas in its opposition to plans for storing nuclear waste in the western part of the Lone Star State.
By Alex Swoyer - The Washington Times
Monday, March 3, 2025
Idaho, Michigan, New Mexico and Utah are supporting Texas in its opposition to plans for storing nuclear waste in the western part of the Lone Star State.
The issue the Supreme Court will address on Wednesday revolves around the Nuclear Regulatory Commission issuing a license to Interim Storage Partners roughly six years ago to store nuclear waste in West Texas near a current low-level radiological waste facility located in Andrews County, Texas.
The state has protested the storage and in 2021 enacted a law aimed at effectively banning the storage plan. But the company has fought to keep the storage license viable.
A lower court sided with Texas, prompting Interim Storage Partners and the NRC to appeal to the justices.
If the high court sides against Texas, it could mean that nuclear waste would be allowed to be transported far across the country to interim storage sites such as the one proposed in Texas.
Idaho said in its filing to the justices that the court should back Texas and swat down the federal government’s move to temporarily store nuclear waste at interim sites, rejecting these licenses to private holders.
Idaho Attorney General Raul Labrador likened the approach to using duct tape, saying a more permanent storage solution would be the right approach.
