Entities that ship radiological waste to the large disposal site operated by Waste Control Specialists in Andrews County, Texas, will see their state fees reduced through mid-2019.
The fee reductions, which went into effect this summer, were approved earlier this year by the Texas Legislature in an effort to improve business prospects for the financially troubled WCS.
The fee reductions are allowed, to varying degrees, for both shippers inside and outside the Texas Low-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Compact Commission. It would reduce gross revenue fees for compact customers from 10 percent to 5 percent, while fees for non-compact customers would drop from 31.25 percent to 16.25 percent.
This fee system will remain in place through Aug. 31, 2019, WCS President and CEO Rod Baltzer said in a Sept. 20 news release.
“This should encourage our customers to dispose of low-level radioactive waste in our state-of-the-art facility in Andrews County and we are already seeing an uptick in scheduled disposal shipments,” Baltzer said. He did not offer any specifics on shipment numbers.
Waste Control Specialists doesn’t know what will happen at the end of the interim period, “but we are pleased to have this 24-month window to offer these cost savings to our customers and encourage them to take advantage of this opportunity,” Baltzer said.
The Dallas-based company operates a 14,900-acre property that encompasses a number of facilities for storage of various waste types. It has endured a series of financial losses, and its proposed merger with Salt Lake City-based EnergySolutions was blocked in June following a federal antitrust trial. WCS and EnergySolutions gave up on the merger rather than appealing the judge’s ruling.
Meanwhile, WCS parent Valhi Inc. is rumored to be in serious discussions with a potential new buyer. Company officials said last week they have nothing to say on a potential buyer at this time.
