NRC ASLBP likely to schedule Holtec/ELEA CISF licensing proceeding oral argument pre-hearings in January

Per its order released today, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel (ASLBP, just established by the NRC on October 31st), to preside over the licensing proceeding for the Holtec International/Eddy-Lea Energy Alliance irradiated nuclear fuel centralized interim storage facility targeted at southeastern New Mexico, has indicated it is likely to schedule oral argument pre-hearings in January 2019.

The ASLBP chairman, Paul S. Ryersen, ordered:

The Board will conduct a pre-hearing conference -- most likely in January -- to hear oral argument on standing and contention admissibility. We are considering where and how to conduct oral argument most efficiently. Possibilities include New Mexico, NRC headquarters in Rockville, Maryland (with the option of participating from other locations electronically), and perhaps elsewhere.

Beyond Nuclear has requested a hearing, and petitioned for leave to intervene, in opposition to the Holtec/ELEA CISF. Diane Curran of Washington, D.C., and Mindy Goldstein of Atlanta, GA, serve as Beyond Nuclear's legal counsel. (Beyond Nuclear also submitted a motion to dismiss the Holtec/ELEA CISF license application proceeding, but NRC has rejected it.)

So too has Alliance for Environmental Strategies (AFES, a NM environmental justice grassroots group), Sierra Club, and a coalition of seven environmental groups from across the U.S., requested a hearing, and petitioned for leave to intervene.

Nancy Simmons of Albuquerque, NM serves as AFES legal counsel.

Wally Taylor of Cedar Rapids, IA serves as Sierra Club's legal counsel.

Terry Lodge of Toledo, OH serves as the environmental coalition's legal counsel.