Feds Block Merger of Dallas-based Waste Control Specialists, Firm Wanting to House Nuclear Waste in West Texas

A federal judge on Wednesday blocked the proposed merger of Dallas-based Waste Control Specialists and its biggest rival, Energy Solutions. Judge Sue L. Robinson agreed with the federal government's arguments that the deal would violate antitrust law. The complaint pointed out that a merger would combine the only two commercial low-level radioactive waste disposal facilities for 36 states.The U.S. Attorney General's official sued in November to stop the deal. The Dallas Morning News is awaiting comments from Waste Control Specialists and Salt Lake City-based Energy Solutions.Waste Control Specialists, founded by the late Dallas billionaire Harold Simmons, is best known locally for its low-level radioactive waste site in West Texas. Recently, the company has tried to expand its business by housing nuclear waste from power plants temporarily at the site in Andrews County.Waste Control Specialists announced in April that the company was putting its new application to house up to 40 tons of high-level waste on hold while it managed issues related to the merger.  Continue reading...