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Public commenters praise 2023 law restricting interim storage and urge oversight after Holtec withdrawal
Summary
Public commenters thanked legislators for passage of Senate Bill 53 (2023) that restricts high-level radioactive waste storage in New Mexico, noted Holtecwithdrew from an agreement, and raised concerns about logistics and Idaho agreements related to glove-box shipments.
Joni Ahrens, cofounder of Concerned Citizens for Nuclear Safety, used public comment to thank Senator Steinborn and the bill sponsors for passage of Senate Bill 53 in 2023, which she described as stopping high-level radioactive waste disposal in New Mexico. Ahrens referenced recent news that Holtec pulled out of a storage agreement and thanked legislators for their work.
Another commenter, identified only as Scott, told the committee he supported the 2023 law and urged officials to pay attention to logistics tied to potential changes in glove-box movements. He warned that trucks could move north on I-25 "possibly with loaded" shipments rather than empty returns and urged the committee to confirm IdahoDOE agreements that govern how long material may remain in Idaho before additional moves.
Those public comments reinforced committee questions about shipment prioritization and the need for clear intergovernmental agreements before changing operational practices.
