The New Mexico Environment Department has “grave concerns” about the “inadequacy of the technical analysis” in Holtec’s plan to build its HI-STORE Combined Interim Storage Facility in the southeastern part of the state, according to a letter the state agency sent to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
The state department called Holtec’s proposed site geographically unsuitable and inadequately conceptualized, and said the commission’s draft environmental impact statement about the company’s application to build the storage facility there “negligently fails” to comply with the federal National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), which requires federal agencies to assess the environmental effects of projects.
The public comment period for the draft statement on Holtec International’s application to build the facility ended this week. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) plans to complete its final safety evaluation by May 2021 and its environmental review by July 2021, according to a letter the commission sent to Holtec on Wednesday.
The NRC estimates the licensing review to cost around $7.5 million.
The draft environmental impact statement received around 4,200 public comments, though as is often the case, many were identical and created through a template or form. Many opposed the project, citing concerns over the detrimental impact radioactive waste could have on nearby populations, the suitability of the site and fairness.
Holtec did not respond to requests for comment Thursday afternoon.
