Don't Waste Michigan (DWM) Files Federal Lawsuit Challenging Proposed Radwaste Dump in New Mexico

Washington, D.C., June 24, 2020 — News Release from www.BeyondNuclear.org

On June 22, 2020, the national grassroots environmental coalition Don't Waste Michigan (DWM), et al. filed an appeal with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit (Case No. 20-1225), requesting review of an April 23, 2020 Order by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). NRC's Order rejected DWM, et al.'s challenges to Holtec International/Eddy Lea Energy Alliance’s application to build a massive “consolidated interim storage facility” (CISF) for nuclear waste in southeastern New Mexico. Holtec proposes to store as much as 173,000 metric tons of highly radioactive irradiated nuclear fuel – more than twice the amount currently stored at U.S. nuclear power reactors – in shallow pits on the site.

DWM, et al. is comprised of the following seven organizations, from six states across the country: Citizens for Alternatives to Chemical Contamination, MI; Citizens’ Environmental Coalition, NY; Don’t Waste Michigan; Nuclear Energy Information Service, IL; Nuclear Issues Study Group, NM; Public Citizen (DC, TX); San Luis Obispo Mothers for Peace, CA. Toledo, OH-based attorney Terry Lodge serves as the coalition's legal counsel.

As listed in its Petition for Review, Don't Waste MI, et al. appealed the following seven Contentions from its licensing intervention before the NRC to the federal court: Contention (1) Redaction of Historic and Cultural Properties Precludes Public Consultation and Participation; Contention (2) Insufficient Assurance of Financing; Contention (3) Underestimation of Low-Level Radioactive Waste Volume; Contention (4) Holtec Does Not Qualify For Continued Storage Generic Environmental Impact Statement; Contention (7) Holtec's "Start Clean/Stay Clean" Policy Is Unlawful and Directly Causes a Public Health Threat; Contention (9) Incomplete and Inadequate Disclosure of Transportation Routes; and Contention (11) National Environmental Policy Act Requires Significant Risk Analysis. Read more…