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Help Stop a bad radioactive waste bill in the Texas Legislature

SB 1046 (by Senators Birdwell and Seliger) and HB 2692 (by Rep. Landgraf) claim to but fail to stop a new high level radioactive waste dump in the state while removing protections and existing fees to the state for the so called "low-level" nuclear waste already coming in to Texas.

Due to loopholes, the bill fails to stop deadly high-level radioactive waste from coming to Texas. And Waste Control Specialists/ Interim Storage Partners (WCS/ISP) refuses to withdraw their federal application for high-level radioactive waste a Centralized "Interim" Storage (CIS) facility.

Governor Abbott vetoed massive financial giveaways to WCS last legislative session, but the company is back, wanting them and more. If the bill passes, Texas would lose hundreds of millions of dollars, or more, from surcharges on the "low-level" radioactive waste that already comes to the existing WCS nuclear waste burial ground. The State of Texas won’t be able to afford long term maintenance or radioactive and chemical cleanup without this funding.

To make it even worse, safety regulations would be loosened and an antitrust requirement would be removed.

Fill out the form below to email Gov. Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and your State Senator and Representative!

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BACKGROUND adapted from Public Citizen TX and SEED Coalition

OPPOSE: SB 1046 – by Sen. Birdwell and Seliger and HB 2692 by Rep. Landgraf

Waste Control Specialists (WCS) has applied to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for a license to store high-level radioactive waste above ground at its existing "low-level" radioactive waste site in Andrews County. 40,000 tons of deadly high-level waste could be trucked, railroaded and shipped into Texas to be stored in Texas for decades (more likely indefinitely). The application is now under the name Interim Storage Partners (ISP), which includes WCS and their partner, Orano. This license is illegal under federal law but is being processed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission anyway. This bill fails to halt the storage or disposal of this dangerous waste, while creating additional economic and safety risks at the currently-operating nuclear waste site.

Oppose SB 1046 and HB 2692– Don’t Be Fooled by this Bill

Due to loopholes the bill fails to prohibit the Consolidated "Interim" Storage (CIS) of high-level radioactive waste, the most radioactive part of the nuclear power and weapons fuel chain. And WCS/ISP testified in the TX Senate hearing that they will NOT withdraw their license application. We can expect the company to continue pursuing their dangerous plans to import deadly, long-lasting nuclear reactor waste.

Key failures of the bill:

The language fails to include Greater Than Class C waste – very hot radioactive waste that is a part WCS/ISP’s Consolidated Interim Storage license application.
Does not require Interim Storage Partners to withdraw its NRC CIS license application.
Dramatically cuts the fees paid to the state for waste already coming into the state
Weakens protections.

Surcharge Reductions... Corporate Giveaway Would Cost Texas many millions of dollars:

This bill is a bonanza for WCS. It reduces a 20% surcharge WCS collects from imports of "low-level" radioactive waste to 5% and eliminates a 5% General Revenue state fee.
Texas could lose hundreds of millions of dollars… or more.
The state could lose out on over $21 million in fees from a single nuclear reactor, and many could soon be sending waste to Texas. The NRC says that there are 23 US reactors in various stages of decommissioning. 20 reactors with similar amounts of waste would mean losses to Texas of $420 million.
TX CEQ’s Surcharge Study says 86 reactors could send their "low-level" radioactive waste to Texas. They recommended leaving the existing surcharge and fee in place.
WCS has no competitors for disposal of Class B and C, the hotter, more intensely concentrated radioactive waste, so the fees do not make them less competitive.
Texas will need the revenues later. Costs to clean up contaminated radioactive sites have ranged from millions to billions of dollars. States have ended up with liability and responsibility for commercial nuclear wastes sites.

It relaxes safety and ethics requirements:

Removes the requirement to containerize Class A waste – a necessary safety measure.
Removes annual limits on the amount of waste imported, speeding up disposal and increasing the amounts allowed.
Repeals the requirement for contracts to be negotiated in good faith; conform to applicable antitrust statutes and regulations and to be nondiscriminatory.

For more information please contact:

Karen Hadden, SEED Coalition, 512-797-8481 or karendhadden@gmail.com

Lon Burnam, Public Citizen’s Texas Office, 817-721-5846 or lon.burnam@gmail.com

In the News: Earthquakes are one of many reasons why West Texas is NOT a good place for radioactive waste.

Multiple Earthquakes Felt Across Texas - April 15, 2021

4.3 Magnitude earthquake outside Amarillo Wednesday night

https://www.yahoo.com/gma/multiple-earthquakes-felt-across-texas-173339933.html?guccounter=1

Texas Governor

Subject: Stop the Bad Texas Radioactive Waste Bill HB 2692/SB 1046

Message:

Please VETO the bad radioactive waste bill (SB1046/HB2692) if it reaches your desk.<br>Please do all you can to prevent it from being passed. Thank you for vetoing similar give-aways (surcharge reductions) to WCS last year.<br><br>I oppose SB 1046/ HB 2629 because:<br>•	Due to loopholes the bill fails to halt high-level radioactive waste, irradiated "spent" fuel and Greater than Class C waste from coming to Texas. <br>•	The bill has giveaways to one private company (Waste Control Specialists/WCS) that cause the state to lose out on hundreds of millions of dollars, or more, currently required. <br>•	Existing surcharges should stay in place, not be reduced as in this bill, so Texas will have the money to clean up long-lasting radioactive contamination. <br>•	The bill relaxes safety measures, increasing radioactive risks. For example, requirements to containerize Class A waste get removed - a step backward. <br>•	The bills remove requirements to negotiate in good faith, abide by antitrust laws and practice nondiscrimination. <br>•	Dozens of massive nuclear power reactors will be closing and sending their components and dismantlement waste to be buried at WCS. The state needs its fees for long-term liability--Other "low-level" radioactive waste sites in the US have defaulted to state responsibility and this one will too. Don't approve this give-away!<br><br>This bad radioactive waste vendor bill would cost the state hundreds of millions of dollars or more and increase radioactive liabilities, dangers and risks. <br><br>Oppose adding $5,000,000 as a contingency amendment the General Appropriations Bill (CSSB 1). 86 nuclear reactors have nowhere but WCS to send much of their waste so the company is not about to go bankrupt.  <br><br>Thank you so much for protecting Texas and Texans.<br><br>Sincerely,

Remaining:

Texas Lt. Governor

Subject: Stop the Bad Texas Radioactive Waste Bill SB 1046

Message:

Please do all you can to stop the bad radioactive waste bill SB 1046. Keep it from moving to the floor and if it comes to it, VOTE NO on SB 1046.<br><br>I oppose SB 1046 because:<br>•	Due to loopholes the bill fails to halt high-level radioactive waste, irradiated "spent" fuel and Greater than Class C waste from coming to Texas. <br>•	The bill has giveaways to one private company (Waste Control Specialists/WCS) that cause the state to lose out on hundreds of millions of dollars, or more, currently required. <br>•	Existing surcharges should stay in place, not be reduced as in this bill, so Texas will have the money to clean up long-lasting radioactive contamination. <br>•	The bill relaxes safety measures, increasing radioactive risks. For example, requirements to containerize Class A waste get removed - a step backward. <br>•	The bills remove requirements to negotiate in good faith, abide by antitrust laws and practice nondiscrimination. <br>•	Dozens of massive nuclear power reactors will be closing and sending their components and dismantlement waste to be buried at WCS. The state needs its fees for long-term liability--Other "low-level" radioactive waste sites in the US have defaulted to state responsibility and this one will too. Don't approve this give-away!<br><br>This bad radioactive waste vendor bill would cost the state hundreds of millions of dollars or more and increase radioactive liabilities, dangers and risks. <br><br>Oppose adding $5,000,000 as a contingency amendment the General Appropriations Bill (CSSB 1). 86 nuclear reactors have nowhere but WCS to send much of their waste so the company is not about to go bankrupt.  <br><br>Thank you so much for protecting Texas and Texans.<br><br>Sincerely,

Remaining:

TX House of Representatives

Subject: VOTE NO on HB 2692 Bad Radioactive Waste Bill

Message:

Please do all you can to stop the bad radioactive waste bill HB 2692. Keep it from moving to the floor and VOTE NO on HB 2692 if it comes to the floor.<br><br>I oppose HB 2629 because:<br>•	Due to loopholes the bill fails to halt high-level radioactive waste, irradiated "spent" fuel and Greater than Class C waste from coming to Texas. <br>•	The bill has giveaways to one private company (Waste Control Specialists/WCS) that cause the state to lose out on hundreds of millions of dollars, or more, currently required. <br>•	Existing surcharges should stay in place, not be reduced as in this bill, so Texas will have the money to clean up long-lasting radioactive contamination. <br>•	The bill relaxes safety measures, increasing radioactive risks. For example, requirements to containerize Class A waste get removed - a step backward. <br>•	The bills remove requirements to negotiate in good faith, abide by antitrust laws and practice nondiscrimination. <br>•	Dozens of massive nuclear power reactors will be closing and sending their components and dismantlement waste to be buried at WCS. The state needs its fees for long-term liability--Other "low-level" radioactive waste sites in the US have defaulted to state responsibility and this one will too. Don't approve this give-away!<br><br>This bad radioactive waste vendor bill would cost the state hundreds of millions of dollars or more and increase radioactive liabilities, dangers and risks. <br><br>Do not add $5,000,000 as a contingency amendment the General Appropriations Bill (CSSB 1). 86 nuclear reactors have nowhere but WCS to send much of their waste so the company is not about to bankrupt.  <br><br>Thank you so much for protecting Texas and Texans.<br><br>Sincerely,

Remaining:

Texas Senate

Subject: VOTE NO on SB 1046 Bad Radioactive Waste Bill

Message:

I oppose SB 1046 because:<br><br>•	Due to loopholes the bill fails to halt high-level radioactive waste, irradiated "spent" fuel and Greater than Class C waste from coming to Texas. <br>•	The bill has giveaways to one private company (Waste Control Specialists/WCS) that cause the state to lose out on hundreds of millions of dollars, or more, currently required. <br>•	Existing surcharges should stay in place, not be reduced as in this bill, so Texas will have the money to clean up long-lasting radioactive contamination. <br>•	The bill relaxes safety measures, increasing radioactive risks. For example, requirements to containerize Class A waste get removed - a step backward. <br>•	The bills remove requirements to negotiate in good faith, abide by antitrust laws and practice nondiscrimination. <br>•	Dozens of massive nuclear power reactors will be closing and sending their components and dismantlement waste to be buried at WCS. The state needs its fees for long-term liability--Other "low-level" radioactive waste sites in the US have defaulted to state responsibility and this one will too. Don't approve this give-away!<br><br>This bad radioactive waste vendor bill would cost the state hundreds of millions of dollars or more and increase radioactive liabilities, dangers and risks. <br><br>Do not add $5,000,000 as a contingency amendment the General Appropriations Bill (CSSB 1). 86 nuclear reactors have nowhere but WCS to send much of their waste so the company is not about to bankrupt.  <br><br>Thank you so much for protecting Texas and Texans.<br><br>Sincerely,

Remaining: