The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case challenging a plan to store highly radioactive nuclear waste in West Texas, a decision that could affect how nuclear waste is managed across the country.
Travis Bubenik reports for Marfa Public Radio.
In short:
- Interim Storage Partners wants to store nuclear waste in Andrews County, Texas, but a court blocked the plan last year.
- Texas lawmakers banned the project in 2021, and the case now hinges on federal authority to approve such storage sites.
- The ruling could impact a similar waste facility proposal in New Mexico.
Key quote:
A Supreme Court ruling in favor of Texas “would further delay progress in advancing a safe, environmentally sustainable, and well-managed used fuel management system.”
— Ellen Ginsberg, advocate and attorney with the trade group Nuclear Energy Institute
Why this matters:
Radioactive nuclear waste poses a significant environmental and public health risk. The Supreme Court’s decision may influence future policies for long-term storage solutions for the nation's growing waste.
Related: Colorado's persistent nuclear threat: a legacy of risk and contamination
