Woodbury County opens public hearing on zoning change to allow consideration of nuclear facilities

The Woodbury County Board of Supervisors opened a public hearing July 22 on a proposed amendment to the county zoning ordinance that would add definitions and permitting pathways for nuclear energy facilities and nuclear waste storage within the general industrial zoning district.

The measure, presented by Daniel Priestley, Zoning Coordinator, would not authorize any specific plant or storage site; Priestley said the change is intended "to ensure a clear process for evaluating potential projects." He told the board the Zoning Commission had held six public hearings and recommended adding nuclear uses to the ordinance and expanding the public-notice radius for conditional-use permits from 500 feet to 10 miles so nearby communities would receive formal notice.

The proposal drew multiple public comments at the hearing and a packet of submitted remarks. Victoria Kitchion, chairwoman of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska, said the tribe "is deeply concerned about the proposed zoning changes that will permit and possibly encourage future consideration of nuclear facilities," citing treaty-protected…