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Tensions flared at a Bar Nunn Town Council meeting Tuesday in Wyoming as residents argued with councilors over Radiant Industries’ proposed nuclear microreactor manufacturing facility nearby.
Heated exchanges came just more than halfway through a nearly two-hour meeting where residents and the Town Council squared off over concerns about safety, environmental impact and the council’s perceived lack of neutrality.
Much of the opposition is focused on the storage of spent nuclear fuel. Wyoming law currently bans the storage of high-level radioactive waste unless it’s produced by an in-state nuclear power generation facility. In late July of this year, the Legislature’s Joint Minerals, Business and Economic Development Committee tabled an amendment that would allow nuclear reactor manufacturers to store spent fuel from their devices on-site.
Concerns also ranged from the novelty of the technology and the lack of long-term data to the potential for radiation leakage, the dangers of transporting nuclear materials and the permanent containment of radioactive waste. One resident cited a personal health history tied to radiation exposure and accused the council of ignoring the community’s will, claiming eighty percent of attendees at a previous meeting opposed the project.
The heated discussion also included historical grievances, with residents recalling past environmental and health issues from uranium mining, including accounts of two-headed snakes and three-legged frogs as a result of environmental contamination. Councilor Dan Sabrosky tried to distinguish modern nuclear cask storage from historical practices, saying a “new renaissance” in mining addresses past issues.
The contentious meeting took place within the context of the town’s broader growth strategy. The council expressed a need for “major growth” after over a decade of stagnation, suggesting a large-scale project like Radiant could be a catalyst for developing undeveloped land north of town for new housing and businesses.
The Casper/Natrona County Economic Development Joint Powers Board is applying for a twenty-five million dollar state grant from the Wyoming Business Council for Infrastructure Development, including sewer, water and a new public road. The infrastructure is intended not only to benefit Radiant but also to attract other companies. The Casper City Council and the Natrona County Board of Commissioners supported the grant application, but the Bar Nunn Town Council declined to join them.
Some residents urged the council to prevent Radiant from building its proposed facility by denying it a hook-up to the town’s utility infrastructure. Councilors responded that there’s no current hook-up request to consider. They pointed out that they cannot legally deny a request from a legal business. Some residents argued that Radiant’s business model is illegal in Wyoming due to federal rules on spent nuclear fuel storage. Radiant executives responded that the company will only build in the state if the law is amended, meaning that any application for utility hook-up would come from a legal business.
Bar Nunn’s legal authority over the proposed site is hindered because it lies outside city limits. Mayor Boyer explained that a 2019 state law prevents the council from voting on developments outside town limits, even if they are located within its designated growth boundary. The council’s only role in such situations is to provide an opinion to the county, which will make the final decision.
Please read Part 2 next