No: 18-007 March 1, 2018

CONTACT: David McIntyre, 301-415-8200

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has formally docketed an application by Holtec Inc. to construct and operate a consolidated interim storage facility for spent fuel from commercial nuclear power reactors in Lea County, New Mexico. In docketing the application, the NRC has determined the application is sufficiently complete for the staff to begin its detailed safety, security and environmental reviews. Docketing does not indicate approval of the application.

Holtec submitted its application on March 30, 2017, and supplemented it in October and December in response to NRC staff questions. Holtec seeks to store up to 8,680 metric tons of uranium in commercial spent fuel in the Holtec International Storage Module Underground “MAXimum” Capacity (HI-STORM UMAX) Storage System for a 40-year license term.

The NRC staff informed Holtec of its docketing determination in a letter dated Feb. 28, 2018. The NRC will publish a notice of docketing in the Federal Register in coming days. The application and other documents related to the NRC’s review are available on the NRC website.