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A hazardous waste disposal company in Andrews County wants to handle more dangerous levels of nuclear waste. Now, federal agencies are pondering new rules that could do just that, and allow more of it to come to Texas. My latest: https://www.texastribune.org/2021/02/10/nuclear-waste-government-rules/
You may have heard of the site's long-shot plan to temporarily store the most highly radioactive material — spent nuclear fuel — in Andrews. But that plan is caught in political turmoil, facing legal hurdles and stiff opposition from enviro groups, oil companies, & Gov. Abbott.
Meantime, quieter changes and proposed rules by the federal govt to allow higher levels of waste to go to West Texas are moving forward. In a way, it's what opponents feared in the 90s when the facility was built. At the time, the company said it wouldn't take nuclear waste.
The govt and Waste Control Specialists, which owns the facility, maintain radioactive spills during transportation or storage are very unlikely to occur. WCS "has an extensive monitoring program" to ensure safety. It also provides $1M/year to the county where it operates.
But some scientists say these materials WCS wants to take are some of "the most dangerous materials in the world."
Back in the early 2000s, some TCEQ staff resigned rather than permit even low-level nuclear waste to go to the site. That's the permit WCS operates under today.
Back in the early 2000s, some TCEQ staff resigned rather than permit even low-level nuclear waste to go to the site. That's the permit WCS operates under today.
Is Texas on its way to becoming an epicenter for radioactive waste? And if it is, what are the risks? what are the benefits? Read here: https://www.texastribune.org/2021/02/10/nuclear-waste-government-rules/
