Radioactive Waste

RE: Docket No. 72–1051; Holtec International’s HI–STORE CIS Facility for Spent Nuclear Fuel, Lea County, New Mexico – Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) NRC: On May 18, 2018 San Luis Obispo Mothers for Peace (SLOMFP) submitted scoping comments on the Holtec Environmental Report (ER) to transport up to 100,000 metric tons of spent fuel, high-level radioactive waste, from nuclear reactors around the country to southeast New Mexico. In those comments we clearly stated that we do not consent to the irradiated nuclear fuel that has been produced by the Diablo Canyon nuclear reactors being sent to another community. We asserted that it is morally repugnant to transport this deadly waste on our rails and highways to a poor community of color. We strongly believe Diablo’s waste must continue to be stored on-site until a permanent repository can be found. In March, 2020, the DEIS was released by the NRC and SLOMFP were very disappointed to see that none of our comments were addressed in a satisfactory manner. So, we reiterate:

The Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) in New Mexico must not be allowed to expand. Nor should it be allowed to operate beyond its current license that ends in 2024. Since its opening in 1999 WIPP has been fraught with safety problems including leaks of radioactive materials.

San Luis Obispo Mothers for Peace opposes the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s proposed rule change, docketed in the Federal Register (NRC-2020-0101), to reduce the emergency preparedness requirements for small modular reactors, “other new technologies,” and production and utilization facilities.

DON'T WASTE MICHIGAN, et al. FILES FEDERAL LAWSUIT CHALLENGING NATIONAL HIGH-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTE DUMP TARGETING NEW MEXICO Petitioners charge Nuclear Regulatory Commission inadequately disclosed irradiated nuclear fuel transport routes through 45 states [WASHINGTON, DC – June 24, 2020] -- On June 22 the national grassroots environmental coalition Don't Waste Michigan (DWM), et al. filed an appeal with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit (Case No. 20-1225), requesting review of an April 23, 2020 Order by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). NRC's Order rejected DWM, et al.'s challenges to Holtec International/Eddy Lea Energy Alliance’s application to build a massive “consolidated interim storage facility” (CISF) for nuclear waste in southeastern New Mexico. Holtec proposes to store as much as 173,000 metric tons of highly radioactive irradiated nuclear fuel – more than twice the amount currently stored at U.S. nuclear power reactors – in shallow pits on the site.

San Luis Obispo Mothers for Peace urges Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi to demand that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) hold hearings on proposals for Holtec to transport high level nuclear wastes to an "interim storage site" in New Mexico.

On Tuesday, May 7, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's Atomic Safety and Licensing Board summarily terminated Public Intervenors' requests for an evidentiary hearing challenging Holtec International’s proposed high level nuclear waste dump in southeastern New Mexico. As one of the Intervenors in this case, San Luis Obispo Mothers for Peace is concerned that once again the NRC is protecting the nuclear industry and not the American public.

Mothers for Peace strongly urges Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) to drop its request that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) grant Diablo Canyon an exemption from inspection of a highly radioactive component of the plant. The reliability and safety of the nuclear plant depends on knowledge of the effects of aging on the reactor vessels that have been bombarded by radiation for 35 years. The following letter was sent to Jon Franke, Chief Nuclear Officer, Pacific Gas and Electric Company.

Mothers for Peace points out that there are serious questions about the safety and reliability of Unit One of Diablo Canyon nuclear plant. Embrittlement, cracking of the reactor vessel, and waste management require tests and close monitoring.

The current composition of the Diablo Canyon Decommissioning Engagement Panel, using citizen volunteers rather than elected officials or political appointees, is in the best interests of the Central Coast and beyond. The Panel is off to a good start in reviewing environmental concerns and issues surrounding radioactive waste storage.

San Luis Obispo Mothers for Peace submitted the following comments on Public Review Draft of the Strategic Vision of the Diablo Canyon as written by the Decommissioning Engagement Panel (DCDEP), dated November 2018. The DCDEP consists of eleven volunteer citizens and all of their workshops and meetings are open to the public. For more information about the schedule and work of the DCDEP go to https://www.pge.com/en_US/safety/how-the-system-works/diablo-canyon-power-plant/diablo-canyon-power-plant/engagement-panel.page

Mothers for Peace is one of eighty environmental organizations opposing HR 1320 (the Nuclear Utilization of Keynote Energy Act, or NUKE Act). This bill would undermine environmental reviews, eliminate hearings for uncontested licensing hearings that have in the past revealed serious deficiencies, weaken an already prejudicial hearing procedures process, and hinder the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s (NRC) ability to carry out its statutory responsibilities to protect public health and safety. The letter of opposition was drafted by National Resources Defense Council.

While the Union of Concerned Scientists continues to do much excellent work, its position on how nuclear technology fits into the climate change picture is deeply flawed. San Luis Obispo Mothers for Peace (SLOMFP) is extremely troubled by the positions taken by UCS in its recent report on Nuclear Power and Global Warming.

There are proposals before the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to construct an interim storage facility for our country’s high-level radioactive waste. This would involve transporting up to 173,000 metric tons of toxic material on our roads, rails, and waterways through our cities – and then storing them in a centralized location until a permanent solution can be found. On September 14, 2018, a coalition of seven environmental organizations filed a legal challenge with the NRC opposing the plans of Holtec International/Eddy-Lea Energy Alliance (ELEA) to construct and operate a centralized interim storage facility (CISF) for high-level radioactive waste in southeastern New Mexico. Holtec intends to store up to 173,000 metric tons of radioactive wastes, more than twice the amount that currently exists.

Date: May 2, 2018 May Ma Office of Administration Mail Stop: TWFN–7– A60M U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, DC 20555–0001 RE: Docket No. 72–1051; Holtec International’s HI–STORE CIS Facility for Spent Nuclear Fuel, Lea County, New Mexico NRC: We respectfully submit these scoping comments on the Holtec Environmental Report (ER) to transport up to 100,000 metric tons of spent fuel, high-level radioactive waste, from nuclear reactors around the country to southeast New Mexico. San Luis Obispo Mothers for Peace (SLOMFP) does not consent to the irradiated nuclear fuel that has been produced by the Diablo Canyon nuclear reactors being sent to another community. This would entail the movement of 10,000 canisters of highly radioactive waste through thousands of communities. Furthermore, the site would likely become a national radioactive waste dumping ground. SLOMFP asserts that it is morally repugnant to send this deadly waste on our rails and highways to a poor community of color. Diablo’s waste must continue to be stored on-site until a permanent repository can be found.

Trump Administration Officials at the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission recently put in a bid to shock the dead Yucca Mountain nuclear waste project back to life. The process for federal licensing of Yucca Mountain was effectively terminated more than five years ago. Last week the House of Representatives offered more than $170 Million towards the re-start of Yucca, but the Senate declined. The final appropriations bill governing federal spending for the rest of 2018 contains no funds for high level radioactive waste. See recent news report from The Exchange Monitor at https://www.exchangemonitor.com/no-yucca-money-2018-omnibus-houses-top-energy-appropriator-says/

Diablo Canyon Power Plant’s two nuclear reactors are scheduled to shut down in 2024 and 2025. As of April 2018, Diablo Canyon’s two “spent” fuel pools held 1,800 irradiated nuclear fuel rods, and the Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation (ISFSI) held 49 casks, each of which contains a maximum of 32 rods, for a total of more than 3,300 highly irradiated fuel rods stored on site.

San Luis Obispo Mothers For Peace (MFP) is opposed to placing our nation's irradiated waste in Yucca Mountain for many reasons related to the environment and safety.

Over 75,000 metric tons of radioactive wastes have piled up at nuclear power plants across the United States. After more than 75 years of making this lethal waste, there are still no viable solutions to the problem of how to protect the environment from the dangers it will pose for a million years. If implemented, Consolidated (or Centralized) “Interim” Storage (CIS) facilities would be sites to which irradiated high-level nuclear waste would be moved and stored temporarily. Then, at some point, it would be shipped to a currently non-existent permanent repository. These facilities would provide temporary storage of commercial irradiated waste, mostly in dry storage casks, from all over the country. Currently there are two proposed facilities, one in Texas and the other in New Mexico.

San Luis Obispo Mothers for Peace is a non-profit organization concerned with the dangers posed by Diablo Canyon and other nuclear reactors, nuclear weapons, and radioactive waste. Additionally, the organization works to promote peace, environmental and social justice, and renewable energy.