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State of Texas allows reduction in price of importing nuclear waste

State allows reduction in price of importing nuclear waste to Texas   https://news4sanantonio.com/news/trouble-shooters/state-allows-drastic-reduction-in-price-of-importing-nuclear-waste-to-texas  by APRIL MOLINA, Friday, July 17th 2020  SAN ANTONIO — The state has agreed to allow a private company in West Texas to drop the price charged for incoming nuclear waste.

Waste Control Services (WCS) has been disposing of the nation’s low level nuclear waste in Andrews County at a cost of $100 dollars per cubic foot for Class A waste and $1000 dollars per cubic foot for Class B and C waste.

There is an additional surcharge of 40 cents per unit of radioactivity, but The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality recently approved the request by WCS to drop the price to 5 cents per unit.

A spokesman for WCS explained the market is dynamic so when the price drops, they need to be able to continue to compete.

Public Citizen Texas Office Director, Adrian Shelley worries that by allowing WCS to import nuclear waste at a fraction of the cost, it could result in massive liability for the state.

“If WCS collects less money to import waste in Texas, then there will be less money available should an accident occur and ultimately we’re concerned Texas taxpayers will be on the hook should an accident occur,” Shelley said.

The company doesn’t expect less revenue, rather they anticipate more income as a result of the price drop.

WCS reports Andrews County gets 5% of their revenue and the state gets 25%.

WCS has also been working to get approval for years to temporarily store the nation’s high level nuclear waste that would include spent nuclear fuel rods.

July 18, 2020 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | USA, wastes