ML20307A384
ML20307A384 | |
Person / Time | |
---|---|
Site: | Consolidated Interim Storage Facility |
Issue date: | 10/31/2020 |
From: | Public Commenter Public Commenter |
To: | NRC/NMSS/DREFS |
NRC/NMSS/DREFS | |
References | |
85FR27447 | |
Download: ML20307A384 (4) | |
Text
From: Robert Vann <rimrock42@ymail.com>
Sent: Saturday, October 31, 2020 8:10 PM To: WCS_CISFEIS Resource
Subject:
[External_Sender] Docket No. 72-1050 (NRC-2016-0231), Interim Storage Partners, LLC/Waste Control Specialists, LLC Consolidated Interim Storage Facility Project Attachments: FW Mayor Opposition-28Oc20.pdf From: Robert J. Vann II Rimrock42@ymail.com 4236 Oak Park Ct Fort Worth, Texas 76109 817-946-6890 I am asking that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission deny the licensing of High Level Nuclear Waste (HLW) Interim Storage at the Interim Storage Partners facility in Andrews County, Texas.
Of note: The Governors or both New Mexico and Texas have now expressed opposition to continuing this process, as have numerous communities within the state of Texas, including the mayor of my city, Fort Worth (attached).
The licensing of this facility is currently illegal under the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982, because states have the power to veto such facilities within their borders, unless overridden by both houses of congress, and the act requires prompt movement to a permanent storage site, which does not currently exist.
In addition, your disjointed webinar method of so-called public meetings does NOT provide adequate opportunity for informing the public, nor for in-person commentary. I ask that you extend the decision period until it is again safe to hold such meetings.
I more specifically object to the transport of these materials through highly populated areas of the country, and specifically through Tarrant County, Texas, which is my home.
I believe that NUREG/BR-0292 does not adequately address protecting the public during transport of HLWand protecting the public is supposed to be your primary objective (not facilitating big profits for favored companies). Train accidents are far more common than indicated in that document. The Federal Railroad Administration notes that in 2014, there were almost 12,000 train accidents, just at railroad crossings.
The E.I.S. states that a large number of the proposed shipments would travel on Union Pacific rail lines.
April of last year, there was a serious, fiery UP train wreck in Ft Worth, involving ethanol tank cars. June of 2020, 86-UP freight cars were blown off the tracks in west Texas. July of this year, a UP train derailed and caught fire on a bridge at Tempe, Arizona. This Thursday, October 29th, a freight train derailed in Southeast Texas, puncturing three tank cars, one of which carried a toxic substance, causing the evacuation of nearby residents. An at-grade crossing accident occurred in Longview, Texas, this morning (October 31). And I could list two dozen major train accidents over the past five years, mostly involving serious fires.
NUREG/BR-0292 also discusses the safety of the transport casks in a fire. In the computer simulation of the response of a cask to a severe fire environment, the highest temperature range tested goes to 936-degrees Celsius. However, products commonly carried on trains, such as Butane, Ethanol, Gasoline, and Propane, all burn at temperatures greatly exceeding the tested limits of Nuclear Waste containers, mostly in the 1900 to 2200-degree Celsius range. An HLW cask would be at severe risk on a train that also included cars carrying such materials.
There is a far safer method to handle HLW until a permanent site can be agreed upon: that is in most cases hard storage at or near the reactors where the materials originate. I am asking that you secure and expend funds for doing just that, and deny a license to the high-risk CISF project.
Sincerely:
Robert J. Vann II
Federal Register Notice: 85FR27447 Comment Number: 9186 Mail Envelope Properties (009c01d6afe3$505800f0$f10802d0$)
Subject:
[External_Sender] Docket No. 72-1050 (NRC-2016-0231), Interim Storage Partners, LLC/Waste Control Specialists, LLC Consolidated Interim Storage Facility Project Sent Date: 10/31/2020 8:09:48 PM Received Date: 10/31/2020 8:10:03 PM From: Robert Vann Created By: rimrock42@ymail.com Recipients:
Post Office: ymail.com Files Size Date & Time MESSAGE 3371 10/31/2020 8:10:03 PM FW Mayor Opposition-28Oc20.pdf 97994 Options Priority: Standard Return Notification: No Reply Requested: No Sensitivity: Normal Expiration Date:
Recipients Received:
October 28, 2020 The Honorable Donald J. Trump President of the United States The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, D.C. 20500
Dear Mr. President,
With this letter, the City of Fort Worth joins Governor Abbott and numerous communities across the State of Texas in expressing opposition to the license applications filed with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for consolidated interim storage of high-level regulatory waste, as proposed. Details of these applications are referenced in Gov. Abbotts letter dated September 30, 2020 (attached).
The City of Fort Worth fully recognizes there are significant challenges and risks related to management and long-term storage of high-level nuclear waste. Unfortunately, the proposed storage location in west Texas does not resolve these concerns. In particular, if the NRC approves the filed applications, the Fort Worth community and other surrounding communities anticipate added risk for our collective health, safety, and well-being from the potential transportation of high-level nuclear waste through the region.
Thank you for your consideration of our concerns.
Sincerely, Betsy Price David Cooke Mayor City Manager BETSY PRICE, MAYOR CITY OF FORT WORTH ¹ 200 TEXAS STREET ¹ FORT WORTH, TEXAS 76102 (817) 392-6118 ¹ FAX (817) 392-2409