Waste Control Specialists LLC, a subsidiary of Valhi Inc. (NYSE: VHI), said it will acquire at least two federally-certified shipping casks to facilitate generators’ transportation of Class B and C low-level radioactive waste to the newly-opened Texas Compact Disposal Facility for disposal.

WCS has contracted with Robatel Technologies LLC to design and fabricate the new casks, named RT-100, which will be made of stainless steel and include five inches of lead shielding. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) reviews the design and construction of each cask and issues a certificate of compliance before it is allowed to be placed into service.

“We will begin low-level waste disposal operations later this month using existing casks, with our new RT-100 casks becoming available for use later this year in response to anticipated increased disposal demand,” said William J. Lindquist, CEO of Waste Control Specialists.

WSC said its facility in western Andrews County, Texas is the only commercial facility in the U.S. licensed to dispose of Class A, B and C low-level radioactive waste. It is also licensed for the treatment and storage of low-level radioactive waste and has served as a temporary storage facility for past U.S. Department of Energy projects.

Subscribe to Nuclear Power International magazine