Jeremy L. Dillon
RW Monitor
6/27/2014
As Waste Control Specialists continues to expand its role in the disposal industry, an editorial that appeared in the Dallas Morning News last week criticized the disposal site for “stealthily” seeking to expand the types of radioactive waste the site can accept without a proper public dialogue. Notably, the editorial cites WCS’ efforts to expand the site size by up to three times the current size, its efforts to look at potential interim storage of high-level waste, and its license amendment request to be able to dispose of depleted uranium. “If this mission creep continues, Texans could find themselves the unwitting hosts of the nation’s first permanent for-profit high-level nuclear waste facility,” the editorial said. “If Waste Control’s intention is to build such a site, it owes Texans a straightforward, transparent declaration of these plans so a full public debate can occur.” The editorial later added: “Waste Control’s appearance of stealthily imposing a bigger footprint is cause for public skepticism. Today, the site is taking on much greater quantities and higher levels of radioactive waste from multiple states, and its owner wants permission to dramatically expand operations.”
WCS, for its part, dismissed the editorial as misleading. “Yes, WCS was disappointed with some of the misleading assertions that were made in this editorial,” WCS spokesman Chuck McDonald said. “But on the whole, 2014 has been a phenomenally successful year for the business – and WCS has enjoyed its most positive press coverage ever. From the New York Times to papers throughout Texas, the facility has been cited as for its ground-breaking disposal techniques that are setting a new industry standard.” McDonald also refuted the accusation of the company acting in stealth on these matters as false. The license amendment requests, McDonald noted, have all gone through the Texas Commission of Environment Quality, which has its own process of deciding on the issue, including a technical review and public comment period.
WCS has expanded its role as a disposal site in the last few year, and more changes are on the way. Last year, the company filed an amendment with TCEQ to begin accepting depleted uranium, and a decision on the amendment is expected later this year. Back in January, WCS was able to begin accepting exempted waste in its RCRA hazardous waste landfill. And notably, the site stepped in to help store the Los Alamos TRU waste originally slated for disposal in the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in nearby Carlsbad, N.M. after the site suffered a contamination incident.
