In this episode we cover a controversial and complex issue: plans to store nuclear waste in America’s busiest oil field, the Permian Basin. This is a story that touches on energy, politics, environmental concerns, and the long-term challenges of dealing with radioactive waste. Let’s dive in.
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What is Planned?
At the center of this debate is a plan by Holtec International, a Florida-based energy technology company, to create the world’s largest nuclear waste storage facility in Lea County, New Mexico. This site would be located in the heart of the Permian Basin, one of the most productive oil and gas regions in the world.
Here are the key details:
- Holtec wants to transport thousands of canisters of spent nuclear fuel to the site by rail.
- The facility would store the waste below ground.
- It has a 40-year license and could ultimately hold around 170,000 metric tons of used fuel.
- This is about twice as much nuclear waste as the entire United States currently holds.
How this Plan Could Affect Mineral Owners
The subsurface rights under this proposed nuclear waste storage facility appear to be owned by the State of New Mexico, according to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission Environmental Impact Statement Report. So it appears that there would be no direct impact on fee (private) mineral rights owners should oil & gas drilling be prohibited under or around the facility.
The bigger question is what changes will regulators make to proposed oil & gas operations nearby. Any reduction in drilling activity or impacts to operator’s ability to dispose of produced water in the area could have trickle down effects on mineral and royalty owners, should the facility move forward.
The Broader Context
It’s important to understand this debate in the context of America’s broader nuclear waste challenge. The U.S. has been struggling for decades to find a permanent solution for storing nuclear waste.
A plan to create a deep geological repository at Yucca Mountain in Nevada was abandoned in 2011 after years of controversy and billions spent. This has left the country without a clear long-term plan for dealing with radioactive waste from its nuclear power plants and weapons programs.
The Permian Basin already has some experience with nuclear-related facilities. It’s home to the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP), which stores lower-level transuranic radioactive waste from the U.S. nuclear weapons program. WIPP has been operating since 1999, although it did experience a significant accident in 2014 that led to a three-year closure and raised questions about safety protocols.
The Future
As it stands, the future of nuclear waste storage in the Permian Basin remains uncertain. Legal challenges are ongoing, and the project faces opposition at both the state and federal levels. However, the pressing need for a solution to America’s nuclear waste problem means that this debate is far from over.
Some key questions for the future include:
- Can a compromise be reached between the nuclear and oil industries?
- Will advancements in nuclear technology change the equation for waste storage?
- How will shifting energy priorities in the face of climate change impact decisions about nuclear waste?
Conclusion
The debate over storing nuclear waste in the Permian Basin encapsulates many of the challenges facing the U.S. energy sector. It pits different industries against each other, raises complex questions about safety and environmental protection, and forces us to grapple with the long-term consequences of our energy choices.
As this story continues to unfold, it will be crucial to balance the immediate economic concerns of the oil and gas industry with the long-term need for safe nuclear waste storage. Whatever the outcome, this controversy serves as a stark reminder of the complex trade-offs involved in energy policy and the importance of finding sustainable solutions for managing the byproducts of our energy production.
Resources Mentioned in this Episode
Thanks for Listening!
- The War Over Burying Nuclear Waste in America’s Busiest Oil Field – WSJ
- Waste Isolation Pilot Plant
- Legacy TRU Waste Disposal Plan
- Holtec Receives U.S. NRC’s License for Building and Operating America’s First Below-Ground Consolidated Interim Storage Facility for Used Nuclear Fuel
- NUREG-2237, “Environmental Impact Statement for the Holtec International’s License Application for a Consolidated Interim Storage Facility for Used Nuclear Fuel
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