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.
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 WCS
Waste Control Specialists (WCS) opened in 1995 and is located 1/2 mile over the New Mexico border in Andrews County, Texas. It is approximately 30 miles from Eunice, New Mexico, proposed site of the LES uranium enrichment facility.
WCS is licensed under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act to dispose of ignitable, corrosive, toxic, reactive, and non-hazardous wastes. WCS can also accept liquids, sludges and solids. WCS is licensed to receive solid or liquid radioactive waste, however a federal license under the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has not yet been granted. WCS may also dispose of Polychlorinated Biphenyl (PCB) and PCB-contaminated wastes.
Recently, the first shipments of uranium waste from the Department of Energy’s Fernald uranium foundry left Ohio on their journey to WCS. A total of approximately 2,100 shipments, or 15 shipments per day, of such waste will arrive at WCS, which is authorized to store the waste aboveground until a permanent disposal facility is built.
WCS is hoping to permanently store this waste and more if the Texas Department of Health (TDH) grants them a license. WCS also has a pending license application with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to open two co-located disposal sites, one which would dispose of so-called "low-level" radioactive waste from Texas Compact states (Texas and Vermont), and the other which would accept federal or DOE low-level radioactive waste. The license application for these two disposal sites is in addition to their application to store and dispose of the Fernald, Ohio byproduct material. To make matters worse, a loophole in the law establishing the Texas Compact could guarantee that WCS is allowed to take low-level radioactive waste from any state, as long as it is agreed upon by a simple majority of a six-person Compact Commission. Although this Commission has yet to be established, the Texas governor has the authority to do so at any time. This would mean that WCS could dispose of enormous amounts of low-level waste, resulting in potentially dangerous transportation through communities nationwide.
If WCS is not granted authority to dispose of waste produced outside of the Texas Compact, a conversion facility could be built in Texas, which would render waste produced by LES as Texas Compact waste. If WCS is allowed to dispose of waste produced outside of the Texas Compact, LES waste could be shipped across the border to WCS. LES and WCS have been in discussions about this possibility for some months, although no deal has been finalized.
(Information gathered from WCS and the Lone Star Chapter of the Sierra Club)
WCS is licensed under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act to dispose of ignitable, corrosive, toxic, reactive, and non-hazardous wastes. WCS can also accept liquids, sludges and solids. WCS is licensed to receive solid or liquid radioactive waste, however a federal license under the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has not yet been granted. WCS may also dispose of Polychlorinated Biphenyl (PCB) and PCB-contaminated wastes.
Recently, the first shipments of uranium waste from the Department of Energy’s Fernald uranium foundry left Ohio on their journey to WCS. A total of approximately 2,100 shipments, or 15 shipments per day, of such waste will arrive at WCS, which is authorized to store the waste aboveground until a permanent disposal facility is built.
WCS is hoping to permanently store this waste and more if the Texas Department of Health (TDH) grants them a license. WCS also has a pending license application with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to open two co-located disposal sites, one which would dispose of so-called "low-level" radioactive waste from Texas Compact states (Texas and Vermont), and the other which would accept federal or DOE low-level radioactive waste. The license application for these two disposal sites is in addition to their application to store and dispose of the Fernald, Ohio byproduct material. To make matters worse, a loophole in the law establishing the Texas Compact could guarantee that WCS is allowed to take low-level radioactive waste from any state, as long as it is agreed upon by a simple majority of a six-person Compact Commission. Although this Commission has yet to be established, the Texas governor has the authority to do so at any time. This would mean that WCS could dispose of enormous amounts of low-level waste, resulting in potentially dangerous transportation through communities nationwide.
If WCS is not granted authority to dispose of waste produced outside of the Texas Compact, a conversion facility could be built in Texas, which would render waste produced by LES as Texas Compact waste. If WCS is allowed to dispose of waste produced outside of the Texas Compact, LES waste could be shipped across the border to WCS. LES and WCS have been in discussions about this possibility for some months, although no deal has been finalized.
(Information gathered from WCS and the Lone Star Chapter of the Sierra Club)
For more information about WCS:
The Texas Commisson on Environmental Quality
Texas Environmental Profiles
Fact Sheet: What is Low-Level Radioactive Waste and
Why Should I Care? (Sierra Club)
Lone Star Chapter of the Sierra Club:
Radioactive Waste in Texas
Texans for Public Justice:
Texas Becomes the Nation's Lone-star Nuclear Dump
Bravenet.com