The idea of storing the nation’s highly radioactive nuclear waste in Wyoming might sound like an opportunity to create jobs or generate revenue. But it’s important to look at past experiences, especially those in Texas, to understand why this may not be as good an idea as it seems. The history of dealing with the federal government on nuclear waste shows a pattern of broken promises, failed projects, and growing risks to local communities.
Broken Promises and Federal Overreach
For decades, the U.S. federal government has promised solutions to the problem of nuclear waste storage. However, each time it has failed to deliver. Deadlines have been missed, plans have changed, and states have been ignored. Local communities have been left to deal with the consequences of these failed policies.
Take the example of Texas in 2020. The state’s governor, Greg Abbott, opposed a plan to store the country’s nuclear waste at a private site in his state. He highlighted the potential risks this would pose to Texas’ economy and security, and he was right. The project was later blocked by the courts, which found that the Nuclear Waste Policy Act does not allow such off-site facilities far away from nuclear reactors.
There’s No Money for Wyoming
Some supporters argue that bringing nuclear waste to Wyoming will boost the state’s economy. They claim it will bring in millions of dollars. But the truth is, these promises have not come true in other states like Texas and New Mexico. Similar proposals have been blocked by courts, and federal laws have made it impossible to move forward. Even if these legal hurdles were cleared, Wyoming would still be behind other states that have already started working on nuclear waste storage sites.
Texas and New Mexico are ahead of Wyoming by a decade. These two states already have plans in place to store more than 200,000 metric tons of nuclear waste. That’s more than enough capacity for both current and future nuclear waste. There’s simply no need for a third storage site in Wyoming.
A Faulty Licensing Process
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), which oversees the licensing of nuclear waste facilities, claims that it can safely approve these types of storage sites in Wyoming. However, this is misleading. The NRC’s past mistakes show why it’s dangerous to trust them with such decisions.
In Texas, the NRC approved a nuclear waste facility in the Permian Basin, an area known for its oil and gas production. Local residents, county commissioners, and even oil companies opposed the plan because of the risks it posed to the environment and safety. The Texas Legislature even passed a law prohibiting the facility, but the NRC ignored it and granted a license for the project. This shows a clear lack of understanding of local conditions and the potential dangers of these large-scale facilities.
Furthermore, the NRC does not have experience in licensing large, away-from-reactor nuclear waste sites. The licensing process they use has only been applied to smaller storage sites located near nuclear reactors, not massive facilities designed to store tens of thousands of metric tons of nuclear waste.
Permanent Problems, Not Temporary Solutions
Supporters of nuclear waste storage sites often claim that these facilities will be “temporary.” However, history has shown that “temporary” solutions often become permanent. The federal government’s plans to build a permanent storage facility, like the Yucca Mountain site in Nevada, have been stuck for over 40 years. Once nuclear waste is brought to Wyoming, it is unlikely to ever leave.
A Call to Action for Wyoming
Wyoming needs to stand up and reject House Bill 16, which would allow the storage of nuclear waste in the state. The bill may seem harmless at first, but it is a dangerous proposal that could have serious long-term consequences. Lawmakers must learn from the mistakes of Texas and avoid making the same errors.
The federal government has a long track record of broken promises when it comes to nuclear waste management. It’s time for Wyoming to protect its residents, economy, and environment by rejecting the idea of becoming the nation’s nuclear dumping ground.
Wyoming deserves better. It’s time to say no to nuclear waste storage and protect the state for future generations.
