A nuclear watchdog group is asking the U.S. Department of Energy to conduct more environmental studies before going ahead with a plan to increase the amount of nuclear waste being sent to the Idaho National Laboratory.

In a letter sent last week, the Snake River Alliance says additional research is needed before INL becomes the nation’s primary processing center for transuranic waste from nuclear sites that don’t have their own processing capabilities. The alliance is concerned that the waste could end up remaining in Idaho rather than being shipped to the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in New Mexico.

Department officials say the plan is the best way to deal with the nuclear waste, and that they will respond to the group’s concerns.

(AP)