In 2016 Pierce County played a prominent role in the federal search for nuclear waste disposal sites. Such sites are still needed to house high-level government weapons grade waste and low-level commercial waste. Governmental planning for nuclear waste storage is ongoing.

“The U.S. Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board will hold a public meeting in Albuquerque, NM, Wednesday, October 24th, 2018, to review technical issues that need to be addressed before the Department of Energy (DOE) begins a nationwide effort to transport spent nuclear fuel (SNF) or high-level radioactive waste (HLW)….The Nuclear Waste Policy Act, as amended, calls for this waste to be moved eventually to a permanent geologic repository for disposal. Proposals for temporary interim storage of some of the SNF also have been discussed. Before the waste is moved from where it is now to another location, it will be necessary for DOE to complete the development of an integrated waste program to support transporting the waste. “At this meeting, the Board will consider technical issues related to extended storage and transportation of high-burnup spent nuclear fuel (SNF), including recent progress in the High-Burnup Dry Storage Cask Research Project and the results of a test that transported a SNF cask containing surrogate SNF assemblies on a 14,500 mile journey by truck, barge, cargo ship, and train. The Board will also hear presentations on Dept. of Energy Nuclear Energy R&D project related to direct disposal of SNF in dual-purpose canisters.”

In 2016, Pierce County became part of this proposed plan when a borehole testing site was discussed for the southern part of the county. Because this issue was, and remains, such an important issue for Pierce County and North Dakota, the meeting will be available for public viewing and participation, via live web cast, at Rugby High School, on October 24th, from 9:00 am-6:00 pm. All participants will need to check in at the school office when entering the building.

– N.D. Community Alliance