Tex-New Mex. Radioactive Rangers
Committed to stopping the development of a nuclear corridor in West TX and Eastern NM
About us:
The Tex-NewMex Radioactive Rangers is an interstate coalition of non-governmental organizations, community leaders and individuals that are committed to stopping the development of a corridor of nuclear development in West Texas and Eastern New Mexico. Our primary goal is to halt development of a uranium enrichment facility proposed by Louisiana Energy Services in Lea County, New Mexico in order that the waste produced by the facility will not be stored 1/2 mile over the border at Waste Control Specialists in Andrews County, Texas.
We pursue legal, regulatory, technical and community organizing options for stopping these facilities and ensuring that the public's voice is represented in discussions of development of a nuclear corridor in this region.
About the LES and WCS Proposals
Uranium enrichment is a process by which natural uranium is separated into its component isotopes. The resultant uranium-235, or enriched uranium, is used as fuel for commercial nuclear reactors. Uranium-238, or depleted uranium, is extremely dangerous and long-lasting waste.
Louisiana Energy Services (LES), the international conglomeration who is proposing the enrichment facility, was rejected in two other states after it was proven that they had lied to community leaders about the environmental effects of the enrichment process and it was accused by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission of environmental racism.
In New Mexico, we have argued that since there is no place in which to dispose of this deadly depleted uranium waste, we will not accept the facility. Unfortunately, Waste Control Specialists (WCS), a hazardous waste facility 1/2 mile across the border from the proposed LES site, has offered to take the radioactive waste. They are in the middle of obtaining a license to dispose of the waste now.
We are concerned that our decision makers are attempting to turn this resource-rich part of the country in a nuclear corridor and putting at risk the health, safety and environment of community members. The Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP), the nation's only defense-related nuclear waste repository is located mere miles away. Carlsbad, NM is also a contender to receive the proposed Modern Pit Facility, which could produce as many as 500 new nuclear weapons per year. Further, if WCS received a permit to dispose of low-level radioactive waste, Andrews County may be required to receive dangerous waste from across the country.
We understand that these facilities may create jobs within the communities that support them. However, we advocate responsible job creation that will not leave our region saddled with thousands of tons of radioactive waste that will be dangerous for thousands of years.
We believe that our decision makers must pursue sustainable options for economic development that are protective of our health, safety and environment. For more information about any of these issues, please visit the links. We hope you will join us in this important work.
Louisiana Energy Services (LES), the international conglomeration who is proposing the enrichment facility, was rejected in two other states after it was proven that they had lied to community leaders about the environmental effects of the enrichment process and it was accused by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission of environmental racism.
In New Mexico, we have argued that since there is no place in which to dispose of this deadly depleted uranium waste, we will not accept the facility. Unfortunately, Waste Control Specialists (WCS), a hazardous waste facility 1/2 mile across the border from the proposed LES site, has offered to take the radioactive waste. They are in the middle of obtaining a license to dispose of the waste now.
We are concerned that our decision makers are attempting to turn this resource-rich part of the country in a nuclear corridor and putting at risk the health, safety and environment of community members. The Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP), the nation's only defense-related nuclear waste repository is located mere miles away. Carlsbad, NM is also a contender to receive the proposed Modern Pit Facility, which could produce as many as 500 new nuclear weapons per year. Further, if WCS received a permit to dispose of low-level radioactive waste, Andrews County may be required to receive dangerous waste from across the country.
We understand that these facilities may create jobs within the communities that support them. However, we advocate responsible job creation that will not leave our region saddled with thousands of tons of radioactive waste that will be dangerous for thousands of years.
We believe that our decision makers must pursue sustainable options for economic development that are protective of our health, safety and environment. For more information about any of these issues, please visit the links. We hope you will join us in this important work.
Latest News:
STATE OF NEW MEXICO AND LES AGREE ON LIMITS TO
URANIUM ENRICHMENT PROJECT
URANIUM ENRICHMENT PROJECT
SANTA FE -- New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson and Attorney General Patricia Madrid announced on Friday, May 3 that the State has secured an agreement that requires LES (Louisiana Energy Services) to dramatically limit the storage and disposal of byproduct from a uranium enrichment plant proposed to be built near Eunice, NM.
The agreement between the State and LES will be submitted to the NRC's Atomic Safety and Licensing Board for federal approval. If approved, the agreement settles the State’s legal objections to LES's application pending before the NRC.
Governor Richardson and Attorney General Madrid expressed support for the agreement, which protects New Mexico citizens and the environment, and commended LES for its cooperation.
"When the LES project was announced nearly two years ago, I insisted on strong conditions limiting the storage and disposal of its byproducts,” Governor Richardson said. “We can't afford to allow radioactive byproducts to build up in New Mexico as they have in other states. Without the opportunity to provide real input during the NRC licensing process, the state worked with LES to forge an agreement that includes strong, enforceable limits on byproduct storage and disposal, as well as financial assurance to protect the state in case of any default by the company."
"When the proposal for a uranium enrichment facility originally came to my attention, I had serious concerns that adequate safeguards would not be in place to protect the State," Attorney General Madrid said. "I was particularly concerned about the radioactive byproduct that resulted from the enrichment process and the potential that the byproduct generated would remain indefinitely in New Mexico.
"Now LES will have a strong financial incentive to prevent accumulating storage in New Mexico and LES will provide sufficient funds to ensure that the State of New Mexico will not have to bear the responsibility for any disposal of the radioactive byproduct. LES further agrees to reduce the radioactive byproduct that could be stored at the site by two-thirds. Finally, the State is guaranteed a meaningful role in enforcing LES' responsibilities to the citizens of New Mexico," Madrid said.
The agreement requires LES to limit its storage to about 5,000 cylinders of byproduct, equivalent to approximately 8-10 years of enrichment at full capacity. This is a 67% reduction from the amount of storage requested by LES in its license application with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). Under the terms of the agreement, if storage exceeds this amount, the facility must cease all operations that generate new byproducts. No single container may be stored more than 15 years in total. All byproduct must be converted or disposed of outside of New Mexico.
Additionally, the agreement contains specific measures that will assure that the state has full funding available to clean up the plant in the event of a default.
The agreement also limits conditions under which LES could transfer byproduct to the U.S. Department of Energy, further preventing long-term storage or disposal in New Mexico.
This agreement will be subject to review by all the parties to the licensing process being conducted by the ASLB.
Governor Bill Richardson said the agreement goes far beyond what the state could have achieved through the federal licensing process. "By working directly with LES we have created binding license conditions that protect New Mexico citizens and the environment. The facility will have less than one-third as much storage space as it was designed to have, the company will quickly and safely transport and dispose of its byproducts out of state, and the facility faces $5,000-a-day fines and will shut down if the company fails to comply with these conditions. I urge the federal officials to adopt this agreement."
Governor Bill Richardson also expressed concern about international proliferation issues related to uranium enrichment. "I have previously addressed my concerns regarding proliferation issues directly to the NRC, and am pleased that this agreement contains basic requirements regarding LES compliance with standards of the International Atomic Energy Agency. Nuclear proliferation is a huge international challenge, and this agreement shows that New Mexico will do its part to confront this important problem."
Take Action:
Contact us:
TexNewMexRR@yahoo.com
Speak out! Write a letter to Governor Bill Richardson
opposing development of the nuclear corridor.
Speak out! Write a letter to Governor Bill Richardson
opposing development of the nuclear corridor.
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