pg_0001

Fiscal impact reports (FIRs) are prepared by the Legislative Finance Committee (LFC) for standing finance

committees of the NM Legislature. The LFC does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of these reports

if they are used for other purposes.

Current FIRs (in HTML & Adobe PDF formats) are a vailable on the NM Legislative Website (legis.state.nm.us).

Adobe PDF versions include all attachments, whereas HTML versions may not. Previously issued FIRs and

attachments may be obtained from the LFC in Suite 101 of the State Capitol Building North.

F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T

SPONSOR Heaton

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

1/22/08

HJM 8

SHORT TITLE Change Waste Allowed in WIPP Site

ANALYST Cox

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

SUMMARY

House Joint Memorial 8 addresses reclassifying the types of nuclear waste that will be stored at

the WIPP Project. This Joint Memorial request that ‘Greater than Class C’ (GTCC) nuclear

waste be allowed to be stored at the WIPP site. This Joint Memorial points out that transuranic

waste, another high level type waste, is currently stored at the WIPP site. The conventions and

safety procedures for storing both GTCC and transuranic are similar.

Radioactive wastes are waste types containing radioactive chemical elements that do not have a

practical purpose. They are sometimes the products of nuclear processes, such as nuclear fission.

However, other industries not directly connected to the nuclear industry can produce large

quantities of radioactive waste. For instance, over the past 20 years it is estimated that just the

oil-producing endeavors of the US have accumulated 8 million tons of radioactive wastes.

[1]

The

majority of radioactive waste is "low-level waste", meaning it has low levels of radioactivity per

mass or volume. This type of waste often consists of used protective clothing, which is only

slightly contaminated but still dangerous in case of radioactive contamination of a human body

through ingestion, inhalation, absorption, or injection.

In the United States alone, the Department of Energy states that there are "millions of gallons of

radioactive waste" as well as "thousands of tons of spent nuclear fuel and material" and also

"huge quantities of contaminated soil and water".

[2]

The NRC has categorized Low Level Waste (LLW) into four classes (A, B, C, and GTCC) based

on the concentration of specific short-lived and long-lived radionuclides given in two tables in 10

CFR 61.55. These waste categories are illustrated in the following table.

NRC