Supreme Court to Decide on Texas Nuclear Waste Storage Dispute

The case addresses federal authority over temporary nuclear waste storage and its location near Texas's vital Permian Basin oil field.

Texas officials, led by Governor Greg Abbott, oppose the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's 2021 license for a temporary nuclear waste storage site in Andrews County, citing safety and environmental concerns.
The Supreme Court will consider whether the NRC has the authority to license private companies to store spent nuclear fuel away from reactor sites and if Texas can challenge the decision.
The proposed site in West Texas would store up to 40,000 metric tons of radioactive waste above ground, near one of the world's most productive oil fields, the Permian Basin.
Critics argue the site could become a de facto permanent repository and poses risks to the region's energy infrastructure and water supply.
A decision is expected by June, potentially shaping federal agency powers and the future of U.S. nuclear waste management.