ML18173A125

Comment (167) by Students from University of New Mexico on Holtec International HI-STORE Consolidated Interim Storage Facility Project

ML18173A125
Person / Time
Site:	HI-STORE
Issue date:	03/30/2018
From:	Univ of New Mexico
To:	Rules, Announcements, and Directives Branch
References
83FR13802 00167, NRC-2018-0052
Download: ML18173A125 (3)

Text

Institute of Nuclear Materials Management University of New Mexico Student Chapter To whom it may concern:

Central to the mission of the Institute of Nuclear Materials Management is dedication to "the safe, secure, and effective stewardship of nuclear materials... to enhance global security1." For this reason, and because we believe the proposed consolidated interim storage site will be a benefit to the Carlsbad community and the nation as a whole, we wish to express our support for the proposed site being built and entering full operation.

There are diverse opinions about the future of nuclear energy in the United States, but even if complete abandonment of the nuclear industry were in the near future, consolidation of the nuclear waste already built up would still be the only socially, ecologically, and fiscally responsible way forward. Currently, spent nuclear fuel is building up at dozens of different locations around the country, mostly in coolant pools on power plant sites. Having the waste scattered in this way only multiplies the possibility of an accident that could expose the public and environment to toxic substances. Additionally, the waste is a security concern due to the potential weapons use ofradiological and nuclear materials, so significant security manning is required at each waste site (even if the power plant is no longer in operation). By consolidating the.waste, billions of dollars can be saved 2. One might reasonable think that the power plant companies should be able to cover the security costs as they created the waste, but, unfortunately, the federal government passed laws more than 40 years ago making it responsible for the disposal of nuclear waste3* In the end, innocent tax payers will be the ones to foot the bill for irresponsible waste management policies.

The major concern of consolidating nuclear waste is transportation to the site. Rightfully, citizens are concerned about the possibility of an accident that could lead to an environmental disaster along the transportation route. Fortunately, we have experienced companies like Holtec that have been transporting waste for years. Their waste canisters are extremely robust containment devices that have been licensed by the Nuclear Regulatory Committee to, among other things, be able to withstand a 30 foot fall, complete envelopment in fire, and flooding in case the cask falls into a body of water4* It is no exaggeration to state that in these canisters, the waste will be among the most secure materials being transported on our highways and railways.

Finally, the interim storage site will be an economic benefit to the Carlsbad community. It is clear that this facility will be for the benefit of the community and the nation at large. We believe that work on the site should move forward.

1 INMM.org 2 Cost Implications of an Interim Storage Facility in the Waste Management System. Fuel Cycle Research and Development. September 2016 3Cawley, Kim. The Federal Government's Responsibilities and Liabilities Under the Nuclear Waste Policy Act. Testimony to Congress. 3 December, 2015 4 Safety of Spent Fuel Transportation. US Nuclear Regulatory Committee. February, 2017.

SUNSI Review Complete Template= ADM-013 E-RIDS=ADM-03 ADD= Antoinette Walker-Smith, Jill Caverly (JSCl)

COMMENT (167)

PUBLICATION DATE: 3/30/2018 CITATION# 83 FR 13802

'{

I I

/J A

vu./- /-"i h L1" p'

1. ~~-

~~~

~

..R - ~=r::- ~.., R -

--r: -,r-,:7

>Ji:,l':, 1)/~p Q... x.,L,1Anw\\, ~

F/LA,,,, ~I) P,,, c. 10'.'.:-/ h ~

1-114..-)

',a -** ~

/

{I~

J.(_Jh_..,

v~~~

<9-!702

~

i!JA_/\\,-4 /\\-

171<:: n (__~ /.I JL--

',J '-r-r Institute of Nuclear Materials Management University of New Mexico Student Chapter

-1<.,, ~

Ku"j'r,l,.

t./

7 a.,,--;-CL

f /) till o;a;

:J.

~ I > o Al\\ t~c. o ll ~/~--CL-

/'lA:' H.? d-o P ~

Lvne.__.

t--v\\.p r t ~ R' ni.

t-4. n 'V'P V\\ h f:J.~ ~

DA-VI') C: W11.-,l--t Aa--Ylt,._>

Y--! 1' 1.' I J\\

1 P l.,t,;f-~;' \\, ere-V,:)'1.11.

I E Ke-J lY

/~fl 0,.-:(1f...,

I

~

.. a-'l*;~

h~;:; [/t-,, IA JL,1, JI (r::, A<

Al~~ lr1 /U~tv

( )

• --- J

Name

(./1 V lLJ

~IIV1V10~

fJ\\ oc.,J-e,-'11A~-

~P'1'o\\S

• I

• r(.lu ( Y c,IJ 0 AIIA ~l /JJ/1

{(,.a {-t' ~

- I-"

- ~kl"

... -CA.tr~~

& cJfV M. IA/h itllJW

~J 'L *".d, /4,t4..,

~},.

P.., \\ i" t'\\V" A-"'( °" /;" l/,..:.

-~~-Vlct&l N\\otr\\,t\\Q ~

'? u4-T2.I (?L )t(a:DA-AIL£ L fitot.e'R. I,e;-/V L!h:? -r.

\\AC/,,JC(W'\\ ~rd.

ll--\\ \\J (,(O r_:_ --4.l,t~

C

• 1,_.

~- -,..~ - J"',1\\L..._\\01.

'J Je i -/-1,, v 1-l IJ '1 hi-/ kr T v r.A.,.) T\\d1 1.1,,;:-

_/

Institute of Nuclear Materials Management University of New Mexico Student Chapter

. Signature t J,11/,1.A ~/J/lt1 J<

~--;;' _ J,L.;,. ~

,t::,,'"

"11-L ~~-

"/,/n,,H. ~ -

M,/IJ

~ /7--- /e

"'p'"!...,4

/1-L,t-

_5<...._

~

r

./

~---6~ /1',Jl..t

/,,,w/l__//7 :

11.Akr~ =.

~

'J::::h"y ~. ~ -

c.i

/)

-7af/p. "'J/'/1./ 1~#JJ.._,,;,_,,-;(/

~~ /~

/7

~J,_ ~?'

~/

-~

//h'-",.~.A,~

~

V 1.-

A_f'.,... ---- ~,

"~);/;I/ f&iM/,.--IJ,,../ __:

-~

"V C--;)

C-/

---