Texas Commission Approves Import of Low-Level Nuclear Waste

Date: January 4, 2011

Source: News Room

A Texas commission approved changes to rules this week that could allow 36 states to export low-level radioactive waste to a remote landfill along the Texas-New Mexico border. A 5-2 vote by the Texas Low-Level Radioactive Commission drew both praise and criticism, particularly from environmental watchdog Public Citizen which is promising to sue. Praise comes amid a disposal crisis for low-level radioactive waste-contaminated materials and equipment from nuclear plants, research laboratories and hospitals, since only three other sites in the country can accept them. The other sites do not take all kinds of materials within the low-level category or can only take waste from certain states. That left 36 states with no permanent solutions. The destination is a 1,338-acre concrete-reinforced site in Andrews, TX owned by Dallas-based Waste Control Specialists LLC, a major investor of which is Harold Simmons. Waste Control spokesman Chuck McDonald said that Texas regulators already deemed the site to be safe, and thus granted a license for the project. The state will receive a portion of the disposal fees as well as a $136 million fund to help pay for any future liabilities, he said.

To learn more about Waste Control Specialists LLC, visit: www.wcstexas.com.

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