Texas challenges nuclear waste storage site at Supreme Court
BY EHN Curators
Mar 07, 2025
Texas asked the U.S. Supreme Court to block a planned nuclear waste storage site near its border with New Mexico, arguing that the federal government is unfairly shifting long-term responsibility for the waste onto the state.
Maureen Groppe reports for USA Today.
In short:
Texas contends the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) lacks authority to approve a facility storing 5,000 metric tons of spent nuclear fuel, calling it a de facto permanent site.
The federal government says Texas misinterprets the law, arguing that off-site storage has been allowed for decades and is necessary as nuclear waste piles up.
Justices questioned how "temporary" the facility would be, with some noting Congress has failed to create a permanent solution as required by a 1982 law.
