Texas Compact Will Discuss Draft Rule Update Thursday

The Texas Low-Level Radioactive Waste Compact Commission tomorrow will discuss proposed changes to its rules concerning the importation and exportation of waste, including exempt waste, at its public meeting in Austin, Texas. The meeting will feature discussion from the Commission members over the draft rules, and it will also include public comment, which will likely serve as a venue for EnergySolutions and Waste Control Specialists to put forward their opposing views on exempt waste disposal.

 

EnergySolutions has argued the new language in the updated policy statement that says the Compact’s policy is to “promote the health, safety, and welfare” of its citizens as well as to “distribute costs, benefits, and obligations among the party states” proved the WCS exempt waste cell was antithetical to Compact policy, bringing the exempt waste issue into a larger spotlight within the Compact’s rule update. EnergySolutions questioned whether WCS’ exempt waste disposal capabilities fall in line with the Compact’s policies to protect public health and to protect disposal rates for in-compact generators, as well as other state compact disposal rates. WCS, for its part, has argued that the exempt waste does not affect the financials of Class A waste disposal, and may actually improve them. WCS also argued that the public safety issue was well-covered by TCEQ’s stringent regulatory requirements.