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Area of the proposed site:

Holtec International HI-STORE Consolidated Interim Storage Facility Project, Comment Due Jul 30 2018, at 11:59 PM ET, ID: NRC-2018-0052-0058 https://www.regulations.gov/docket?D=NRC-2018-0052
Documents here: https://www.nrc.gov/waste/spent-fuel-storage/cis/hi/hi-app-docs.html. Note that “Appendix C (pp. 321-464) is redacted, and each page is marked “Security-Related Information Withheld under 10 CFR 2.390.” http://www.beyondnuclear.org/storage/kk-links/7%205%2018%20FOIA%20cultural%20properties%20redactions%20FINAL.pdf Sample comments and more info here: http://www.beyondnuclear.org/centralized-storage/2018/4/10/additional-sample-comments-you-can-use-to-write-your-own-for.html

An earlier US DOE funded site study of the site states that: “Mineral extraction in the area consists of underground potash mining and oil/gas extraction. Both industries support major facilities on the surface, although mining surface facilities are confined to a fairly small area…. Intrepid has rights to potash beneath the Site as shown in Appendix 2A, Map 9 and Figure 2.1.2-3. Mining has not progressed as far as Site….” https://www.nrc.gov/docs/ML1024/ML102440738.pdf While the dry salt lakes and potash mines suggest higher than normal corrosion rate for the 1/2 inch thick Holtec canisters, the location suggests sinkhole risk. The limited DOE funded study, which Holtec uses, denies the existence of karst, but this is hard to believe. Risk is exacerbated by the oil and gas wells and potash mining. The original DOE funded study states that “A producing gas and distillate well with associated tank battery is located near the communications tower…”

Figure 2.3.2.2-3 Major Regional Geological Structures near the Site, Eddy Lea Siting Study Contract No: DE-FG07-07ID14799, cropped http://www.nrc.gov/docs/ML1024/ML102440738.pdf

If “the requested CIS Facility license is issued by the NRC, Holtec subsequently anticipates requesting an amendment to the license to request authorization to possess and store an additional 500 canisters for each of 19 subsequent expansion phases to be completed over the course of years. Ultimately, Holtec anticipates that approximately 10,000 SNF canisters would be stored at the CIS Facility upon completion of all 20 phases… Phase 1 of the CIS Facility will include two HI-STORM UMAX pads that will allow storage of 500 canisters of SNF and GTCC waste from commercial nuclear reactors as well as a small quantity of spent mixed-oxide fuel..” https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2018/03/19/2018-05438/holtec-internationals-hi-store-consolidated-interim-storage-facility-for-interim-storage-of-spent

As explained by Donna Gilmore of San Onofre Safety:
“Holtec HI-STORM UMAX canister storage systems and all other thin-wall nuclear waste canister storage systems are vulnerable to short-term radioactive leaks and potential explosions and criticalities.  Each canister has roughly as much highly radioactive Cesium-137 as was released from the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster.
These thin-wall “Chernobyl” cans have the following design flaws:
* Vulnerable to short-term cracking and major radioactive leaks
* Cannot be inspected inside or out
* Cannot be repaired
* Cannot be monitored or maintained to PREVENT radioactive leaks
* No plan for failing canisters.
Holtec proposes to transport thousands of US aging nuclear waste cans across the country to New Mexico and store them in an unproven HI-STORE CIS “Consolidated Interim Storage” facility,…“. See Handout:  Holtec Storage System Designed to Leak.
https://sanonofresafety.files.wordpress.com/2015/10/designedtoleakholtec-cis-2017-06-24.pdf Read the rest here: https://sanonofresafety.org/holtec-hi-storm-umax-nuclear-waste-dry-storage-system/
New Handout here: https://sanonofresafety.files.wordpress.com/2018/07/spentnuclearfuelfactsheet-short2018-07-11.pdf

Holtec actually admits in a recent presentation that these huge canisters which may be up to 75 ¾ inches in diameter, and up to 213 inches tall are only 1/2 inch thick and the vented protective shell only 1 inch thick: https://www.nrc.gov/public-involve/conference-symposia/dsfm/2015/dsfm-2015-stefan-anton.pdf

“Holtec/Eddy-Lea, Nov 19, 2015 · http://www.holtec. com | Page 4. The ELEA Site. ▫ ELEA purchased 1,000 acres of land approximately halfway between Carlsbad and Hobbs, N.M..” https://www.nrc.gov/public-involve/conference-symposia/dsfm/2015/dsfm-2015-stefan-anton.pdf

HOLTEC IS PRIVATELY OWNED, APPARENTLY BY KRIS PAL SINGH, THOUGH REALLY NO ONE KNOWS. IN THE US THIS MEANS THAT IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO GET INFORMATION ON THE COMPANY. IN THE PAST, SINGH HAS REFUSED TO GIVE INFORMATION ABOUT THE SPENT FUEL CASK SYSTEMS TO THE US GOVERNMENT WHEN IT WAS NEEDED BY THEM TO ESTIMATE COSTS DURING A LAWSUIT. HOLTEC HAS BEEN FINED FOR BRIBING THE TVA. HOLTEC HAS REQUESTED AND GOTTEN WHAT SEEMS LIKE ENDLESS REQUESTS FOR EXEMPTIONS TO THE AGREED STANDARDS FOR PRODUCTION AND PACKING THE SPENT FUEL CASK SYSTEMS. AN UNKNOWN NUMBER OF THE SPENT FUEL CASKS ARE NOT EVEN CORRECTLY PACKED AND RECEIVED “EXEMPTIONS”. ON AT LEAST ONE NUCLEAR REACTOR SITE ALMOST ALL ARE IMPROPERLY PACKED. NOTE THAT HOLTEC EVEN TRIES TO CLAIM COPYRIGHT ON INFORMATION WHICH HOLTEC TOOK FROM AN EARLIER US GOVERNMENT FUNDED DOCUMENT. THIS GIVES A TINY IDEA OF WHAT JERKS THEY ARE.

DO A SEARCH FOR HOLTEC IN THE SEARCH WINDOW OF THIS BLOG TO FIND THE INFO MENTIONED ABOVE AND OTHER INFO ON HOLTEC.

Update: The information, below, originally appear on the top of the post but has been moved here as July 30th deadline looms –
[Update: Written comment extension to end July: https://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/news/2018/18-018.pdf ]
Deadline Monday to Register for teleconference re burial of high level nuclear waste (including spent Mox fuel) in New Mexico by Holtec. Privately owned Holtec’s plan would involve cross country transport and burial of first 500 and then ultimately 10,000 high level nuclear waste cans (Chernobyls in a can). Read more here: https://adamswebsearch2.nrc.gov/webSearch2/view?AccessionNumber=ML18107A144
Written Comment deadline end of May: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2018/03/19/2018-05438/holtec-internationals-hi-store-consolidated-interim-storage-facility-for-interim-storage-of-spent