Carlsbad Current-Argus: Holtec Project Opposed, Yet Company Asserts Local Support

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Nuclear waste project in New Mexico opposed in recent poll, company asserts local support

New Mexicans in every region of the state allegedly opposed storing high-level nuclear waste in their state, according to a recent poll, as a New Jersey company hoped to build a facility to do so near Carlsbad.

The poll, commissioned by Albuquerque-based Southwest Research and Information Center in a partnership with the Center for Civic Policy surveyed 1,015 voters across the state from Dec. 7 to 14.

It found 60 percent of those surveyed were in opposition to the project, with 30 percent supporting and 10 percent undecided.

More:Legality of nuke waste storage at Texas, New Mexico border questioned during court hearing

Holtec International applied in 2017 for a license from the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to build and operate what it called a consolidated interim storage facility (CISF) in a remote area near the border of Eddy and Lea counties.

Last year, the NRC published its final environmental impact statement (EIS), contending the project would have little impact on the environment, and recommending the license be issued.

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Jardin de Milagros in Anthony Helps Address Food Insecurity in El Paso

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By Odile Coirier, fmm, New Mexico-El Paso Interfaith Power & Light field organizer

In March 2020, the COVID pandemic hit my home city of El Paso badly. At that time, I decided to volunteer at the Kelly Center for Hunger Relief (located at Trinity United Methodist Church in downtown El Paso) to deliver food to the most vulnerable people in the city. During one of my volunteer visits,  I noticed healthy fresh vegetables delivered in large boxes. 

Photo: Jardin de Milagros website

At the same time, I got to know more and more about the center’s operations, its  goals to address hunger and food insecurity through direct services to the communities, education programs and advocacy (particularly steamlining SNAP access ). 

This network led me to Jardin de Milagros , or Garden of Miracles, in Anthony (a community that straddles Texas and New Mexico). This is a 3-acre farm operated by Jerry and Susie Hobson since 2010. The garden provides food to Kelly Center, thanks to a collaboration that began with discussions between the Hobsons and Rev. John Schwarti

Photo: Jardin de Milagros website

The Farm depends on volunteers to assist with preparing the fields, transplanting slips and harvesting the produce.

To volunteer, please contact Susie Hobson at (915) 867-3371 or Suzanne.H.Hobson@gmail.com.

The Farm is located at 496 Wallace Road, Anthony, NM, 88021.

Below are a few more photos from the farm.

 

 

 

 

Fall preparations

Post-harvest

The growing season

Susie Hobson

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photos: Odile Coirier, Jardin de Milagros website