Battelle Memorial Institute on Monday defended its efforts to find a site for a nuclear waste borehole storage field test, describing the Department of Energy-contracted project as transparent and honest as organizers explore a location in South Dakota.
After abandoning its original planned test site in North Dakota in the face of public opposition, Battelle is now considering Spink County, S.D., for the five-year, $35 million project. DOE hopes to gain data on whether 16,000-foot boreholes drilled into crystalline rock formations are appropriate for department-managed nuclear waste.
As was the case in North Dakota, South Dakota residents have voiced concern that a successful test could lead to eventual storage of nuclear waste in their community, even though Battelle has insisted the project will not involve any waste. The company also has noted that Spink County cannot be considered for disposal because of its proximity to subsurface water. Battelle hosted two public meetings last week to brief residents on the proposal and answer questions.
“We heard peoples’ concerns and as part of our variance request to the County Zoning Board and as part of our lease agreement, we will stipulate that the holes that we drill will be permanently sealed when we complete the project to ensure that nothing is ever disposed of in these holes,” Battelle spokesman T.R. Massey said by email Monday evening. “We are simply working hard to properly explain the benefits of this science experiment and dispel the misinformation that too often accompanies fear and mistrust.”
Battelle has not disclosed the exact location of the potential site, but Massey said the company has been in discussions about private sites in the Tulare-Redfield area.
“It’s not fair nor prudent to identify potential landowners and private business dealings regarding their land if no decision on a site has been made,” Massey said. “However, when we submit our variance application to the County Zoning Board, we will identify the land on which we propose to perform this project.”
