ML20269A038
| ML20269A038 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | HI-STORE |
| Issue date: | 09/22/2020 |
| From: | Public Commenter Public Commenter |
| To: | NRC/NMSS/DREFS |
| NRC/NMSS/DREFS | |
| References | |
| 85FR16150 | |
| Download: ML20269A038 (4) | |
Text
From:
Joni Arends <jarends@nuclearactive.org>
Sent:
Tuesday, September 22, 2020 9:43 PM To:
Holtec-CISFEIS Resource
Subject:
[External_Sender] Docket ID NRC-2018-0052 (Holtec inadequate DEIS)
September 22, 2020 To: Holtec-CISFEIS@nrc.gov Re:
Public Comments about Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for HOLTEC Application for a Consolidated Interim Storage Facility for Spent Nuclear Fuel and High Level Waste; Docket ID NRC-2018-0052
Dear Nuclear Regulatory Commission:
I oppose the Holtec proposal to bring all of the nations commercial high-level radioactive waste to New Mexico. I oppose bringing any such waste to the state. I agree with New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham that the Holtec project poses significant and unacceptable risks to New Mexicans, our environment and our economy.
While Holtec says that it wants to use the site for 120 years, the DEIS limits its analysis to 40 years. That results in an inadequate, incomplete and technically unjustified draft environmental impact statement. For that reason alone, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) must reject the Holtec proposal in its entirety.
Since NRC has found that waste can safely remain where it is for at least 120 years, which is clearly safer for the next 40 years than packaging the waste and shipping it by railroad through dozens of states - mostly in the eastern half of the nation - to New Mexico. Moreover, since there is no permanent disposal site, it is not credible to say that the waste at the proposed Holtec site would ever leave.
The fact that Holtecs plan to have the federal government own and pay for waste transportation is not legal under current law is not discussed in the DEIS. Holtec has stated that it is lobbying Congress to change the law, but NRC is not supposed to engage in such lobbying, even though the agency gives the appearance of supporting such a change in the law by supporting the Holtec plan.
Further, NRC broke its promise to host five or more in-person meetings in New Mexico. Instead NRC held inadequate and technologically challenged virtual meetings where many people did not have access; if they were able to access the meeting, they had trouble hearing the speakers; and there were delays of up to five minutes between speakers. The virtual meetings did not meet the minimum requirements for public participation in draft environmental impact statement administrative processes.
For this reason and others, NRC must fulfill its promise to hold five or more in-person meetings in New Mexico six months following the end of the global COVID-19 pandemic. To do otherwise is unacceptable. In addition, the public comment period on the faulty DEIS must remain open.
I agree with Senators Udall and Heinrich that there is no compelling public interest reason to justify this rush to replace meetings with virtual webinars, and this decision gives the Commission the appearance of valuing the preferences of a for-profit company looking to store highly dangerous nuclear waste over that of the public and their elected representatives.
Thank you for considering and responding to my comments, rejecting the Holtec technically incomplete application and the NRC inadequate draft environmental impact statement, and extending the comment period until after five or more in-person meetings are held in New Mexico, and transcripts are released for each and every in-person meeting.
Sincerely, Joni Arends
P. O. Box 31147 Santa Fe, NM 87594-1147
Federal Register Notice:
85FR16150 Comment Number:
4562 Mail Envelope Properties (0d6a6cdc-fbff-ee8d-63c9-7c7a98d64f96)
Subject:
[External_Sender] Docket ID NRC-2018-0052 (Holtec inadequate DEIS)
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9/22/2020 9:43:19 PM Received Date:
9/22/2020 9:43:32 PM From:
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