WCS Receives a License for Two New LLW-Disposal Facilities in Texas -WCS' Path to National LLW Management Solutions

WCS received a final license order on January 14, 2009 for two new low-level radioactive waste (LLW) landfills. The process started on August 4, 2004, when Waste Control Specialists LLC (WCS) submitted a license application to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) seeking authorization to dispose of LLW in two enhanced near-surface landfills at its 5.4 square kilometers (1,338-acre) site in Andrews County, Texas. On August 11, 2008, TCEQ issued a final draft license for developing and operating the two proposed LLW-disposal landfills at the site. One landfill, the Compact Waste Facility (CWF), is allowed to contain 65,420 cubic meters (m3) (2,310,000 cubic feet (ft3)) of Class A, B, and C LLW generated in the member states of the Texas Compact (Texas and Vermont). The other landfill, the Federal Waste Facility (FWF), is allowed to contain 736,000 m3 (26,000,000 ft3) of Class A, B, and C LLW generated by the U.S. Government, including LLW mixed with regulated hazardous and/or toxic constituents (MLLW). (The applicable Texas law allows the FDF to contain up to 4,587,600 m3 (6,000,000 cubic yards) of LLW.) The public comment period ended September 16, 2008 and the TCEQ Executive Director filed his response to comments received on December 2, 2008. On December 12, 2008 the TCEQ Executive Director recommended the Commission deny the requests for a contested case hearing. The Commission denied the requests for a hearing and ordered a final license on January 14, 2009. This will enable WCS to commence LLW-disposal operations by June 2010. When opened, the Texas Compact will be the first facility of its kind under the Low-Level Radioactive Waste Policy Act of 1980 (LLWPA), as amended in 1985. It will also provide a partial solution to the nation's current lack of disposal options for Class B and C LLW. (authors)