A legislative committee in Wyoming has moved forward with a proposal aimed at allowing discussions on amending state laws to facilitate the temporary storage of high-level radioactive waste from nuclear power plants. The Minerals, Business and Economic Development Committee voted in favor of the draft bill, known as Used Nuclear Fuel Storage Amendments, which will be presented to the full Legislature when it reconvenes in January.
Committee Co-chairman Rep. Donald Burkhart Jr. (R-Rawlins), a long-time advocate for bringing nuclear waste storage to Wyoming, first introduced the idea in July. However, the specifics of the proposal were not shared until shortly before an October meeting. The draft legislation seeks to update existing statutes to align with regulatory language from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the Department of Energy regarding commercial nuclear waste storage.
Burkhart clarified that the committee’s goal was not to debate the merits of nuclear storage but to modify the current statutes. He emphasized the financial advantages, stating that nuclear waste storage could yield over $4 billion annually for the state amid a declining budget reliant on fossil fuels.
Additionally, Burkhart mentioned that a private landowner in Fremont County was interested in selling land for a storage facility, estimating the purchase would cost around $2 million, with construction expenses at approximately $400 million, funded entirely by private sources.
The proposal, however, revisits a contentious issue that has previously been deemed unfavorable by the public. In 1992, then-Governor Mike Sullivan vetoed a similar proposal after extensive public discourse. While the Legislature has since modified statutes related to spent nuclear fuel, a law prohibiting commercial high-level radioactive waste facilities remains unless a permanent federal repository is established. The draft bill does not aim to amend this statute, yet opponents argue that it could pave the way for options that many states, including Wyoming, have consistently rejected.
Opponents of the proposal voiced concerns regarding the lack of public engagement in the legislative process. Carl Fisher, Executive Director of the Wyoming Outdoor Council, expressed alarm at the rapid progression of the proposal without adequate community discussion, highlighting potential risks to tourism, wildlife, and water resources.
Jill Morrison, who has opposed similar initiatives previously, pointed out that the draft requires only a 30-day notice to the public before construction could begin, urging that residents deserve a chance to express their opinions on such significant matters.
Despite the controversy, the committee heard from Nuclear Regulatory Commission officials who affirmed that any proposed storage facility would undergo thorough scrutiny, including public input opportunities and the ability to contest storage site proposals.
While some committee members, like Sen. Ed Cooper, acknowledged the need for dialogue on the issue, others, including former Senate President Eli Bebout, argued that examining the proposal in detail is essential, citing the resurgence of interest in nuclear energy as a potential solution to the country’s energy challenges.
Federal efforts to create a permanent storage site for high-level radioactive waste are currently underway through the Department of Energy’s consent-based siting program, which seeks community support for hosting such facilities.