After a board meeting this week, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission affirmed its decision to again deny a minerals company’s request to reopen the record about an objection to the licensing of a commercial interim storage facility for spent nuclear fuel, according to the commission’s schedule.
After the commissioners’ meeting Tuesday, NRC published an order rejecting Fasken Land and Minerals’ February petition for the agency to take a second look at its objections to the proposed Interim Storage Partners (ISP) site in west Texas. NRC rejected an earlier request to walk back its decision on the company’s contentions back in April.
In its Tuesday decision, the commission said that Fasken’s argument to reopen the record didn’t “meet the standards for reopening a closed proceeding.” Among other things, the minerals company argued in its petition that NRC had unfairly assessed its objections and that the agency has “encouraged prejudicial procedures” favoring ISP throughout the licensing process.
The proposed ISP site is just one of two potential locations for an interim spent fuel storage facility. The Andrews, Texas site and Holtec International’s proposed facility in southeastern New Mexico are undergoing environmental reviews which the commission has said should wrap up in early July.
