Transuranic Waste
Reporting on the characterization, transport, and disposal of defense transuranic waste at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in New Mexico.
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Transuranic Waste
Idaho makes first remote-handled TRU shipment to WIPP in years
The Department of Energy said Tuesday the Idaho National Laboratory recently made its first shipment of remote-handled transuranic (TRU) waste to DOE’s underground disposal site in New Mexico for the first time since 2014. Workers from Amentum-led contractor Idaho Environmental Coalition made the remote-handled transuranic waste shipment on April 21, according to DOE. The shipments […]
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Transuranic Waste
Carlsbad crowd backs WIPP, pans permit changes sought by state
During a public meeting Tuesday in Carlsbad, N.M., most local residents voiced support for current operations of the Department of Energy’s Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) and argued a state agency’s proposal to modify WIPP’s permit is unnecessary. Further, most said if the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) thinks too few shipments of legacy transuranic […]
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Transuranic Waste
NMED proposal to revamp WIPP permit sharpens tensions over LANL cleanup
Carlsbad, N.M. — A proposed overhaul of the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) hazardous waste permit drew mixed reactions at Tuesday’s community forum, with stakeholders clashing over whether the changes would ease or create a bottleneck in federal cleanup efforts. The New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) is proposing revisions that would require DOE to prioritize […]
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Transuranic Waste
NMED proposal to revamp WIPP permit sharpens tensions over LANL cleanup
Carlsbad, N.M. — A proposed overhaul of the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) hazardous waste permit drew mixed reactions at Tuesday’s community forum, with stakeholders clashing over whether the changes would ease or create a bottleneck in federal cleanup efforts. The New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) is proposing revisions that would require DOE to prioritize […]
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Transuranic Waste
Carlsbad crowd backs WIPP, pans permit changes sought by state
During a public meeting Tuesday in Carlsbad, N.M., most local residents voiced support for current operations of the Department of Energy’s Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) and argued a state agency’s proposal to modify WIPP’s permit is unnecessary. Further, most said if the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) thinks too few shipments of legacy transuranic […]
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Transuranic Waste
North Wind inks Army Corps biz
A North Wind Group company said this week it has landed a share of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers business worth $275 million. North Wind Site Services said in an April 27 news release it has been awarded a seat on the Corps’ Northwestern Division Regional Pre-Placed Remedial Action Contract Multiple Award Task Order Contract […]
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Transuranic Waste
Carlsbad crowd backs WIPP, pans permit changes sought by state
During a public meeting Tuesday in Carlsbad, N.M., most local residents voiced support for current operations of the Department of Energy’s Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) and argued a state agency’s proposal to modify WIPP’s permit is unnecessary. Further, most said if the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) thinks too few shipments of legacy transuranic […]
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Transuranic Waste
NMED seeks to modify WIPP permit; mandate more Los Alamos shipments
In the latest sign of friction between the state of New Mexico and the Department of Energy, a state agency Thursday proposed restrictive changes to the hazardous waste permit for the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) near Carlsbad. Among other things the draft permit changes announced by the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) would set […]
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Transuranic Waste
Post-outage, WIPP receives 25 shipments in March.
The Department of Energy’s Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) recorded 25 transuranic (TRU) waste shipments in March, following an annual maintenance outage that kept it offline since January. The 25 shipments are the first since the facility accepted 33 shipments in December, and an uptick from March 2024 when WIPP received 13 shipments, according to […]
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Transuranic Waste
Post-outage, WIPP receives 25 shipments in March
The Department of Energy’s Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) recorded 25 transuranic (TRU) waste shipments in March, following an annual maintenance outage that kept it offline since January. The 25 shipments are the first since the facility accepted 33 shipments in December, and an uptick from March 2024 when WIPP received 13 shipments, according to […]
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Transuranic Waste
Post-outage, WIPP receives 25 shipments in March
The Department of Energy’s Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) recorded 25 transuranic (TRU) waste shipments in March, following an annual maintenance outage that kept it offline since January. The 25 shipments are the first since the facility accepted 33 shipments in December, and an uptick from March 2024 when WIPP received 13 shipments, according to […]
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Budget & Policy
DOE request touts EM re-development; WIPP among few sites tapped for more money in 2027
Most Department of Energy nuclear cleanup sites would receive modest reductions in their fiscal 2027 funding, under the budget justification document released last weekend by the White House. At the same time, DOE says the Office of Environmental Management (EM) will play a vital role in future nuclear energy and reindustrialization. “EM will change the […]
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Transuranic Waste
WIPP one of few EM sites selected for more money in DOE 2027 request
Most Department of Energy nuclear cleanup sites would receive modest reductions in their fiscal 2027 funding, under the budget justification document released over the weekend by the White House. The request for the DOE Office of Environmental Management (EM)’s Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) near Carlsbad, N.M., is $483 million, an increase of 12% from […]
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Transuranic Waste
WIPP one of few EM sites selected for more money in DOE 2027 request
Most Department of Energy nuclear cleanup sites would receive modest reductions in their fiscal 2027 funding, under the budget justification document released over the weekend by the White House. The request for the DOE Office of Environmental Management (EM)’s Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) near Carlsbad, N.M., is $483 million, an increase of 12% from […]
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Transuranic Waste
DOE seeking deputy Carlsbad manager
The Department of Energy’s Carlsbad Field Office in New Mexico is looking to hire a deputy manager, a post with a payscale in the range of $199,000 to $228,000. The posting, available through USA Jobs, was shared on LinkedIn Friday by DOE Carlsbad Manager Mark Bollinger. The desired candidate would be an executive who would […]
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Transuranic Waste
NNSA explores using Idaho National Lab waste facility
The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) is looking at using a major facility at the Department of Energy’s Idaho National Laboratory for treatment of some of NNSA’s future waste streams, according to a safety board report. On Feb. 17, NNSA and members of the Amentum-led environmental cleanup contractor for Idaho National Laboratory met “to discuss […]
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Transuranic Waste
NNSA explores using Idaho National Lab waste facility
The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) is looking at using a major facility at the Department of Energy’s Idaho National Laboratory for treatment of some of NNSA’s future waste streams, according to a safety board report. On Feb. 17, NNSA and members of the Amentum-led environmental cleanup contractor for Idaho National Laboratory met “to discuss […]
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Transuranic Waste
WIPP ends two-month outage; plans longer one in 2027
The Department of Energy’s Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) near Carlsbad, N.M., has completed an annual maintenance outage that started in January, while managers plan an even longer one next year. The outage that ran from Jan. 5 through March 13 is finished and the underground disposal site for defense-related transuranic waste is once again […]
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Transuranic Waste
WIPP ends two-month outage; plans longer one in 2027
The Department of Energy’s Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) near Carlsbad, N.M., has completed an annual maintenance outage that started in January, while managers plan an even longer one next year. The outage that ran from Jan. 5 through March 13 is finished and the underground disposal site for defense-related transuranic waste is once again […]
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Transuranic Waste
Two-month WIPP maintenance outage draws to a close
The Department of Energy’s Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) near Carlsbad, N.M., has completed an annual maintenance outage that started in January. The outage, which ran from Jan. 5 through March 13, is finished and the underground disposal site for defense-related transuranic waste is once again accepting shipments from around the DOE weapons complex, according […]
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Transuranic Waste
WIPP winds down one outage, plans another in 2027 to replace steel
PHOENIX – Crews at the Department of Energy’s Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) in New Mexico are ending one maintenance outage while planning a longer one for 2027 officials said during the Waste Management Symposia last week. In January 2027, Bechtel-led prime Salado Isolation Mining Contractors will be launching an outage of perhaps six months […]
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Transuranic Waste
New WIPP ventilation system, utility shaft ended up costing about $770M
PHOENIX — Installation of two major infrastructure projects at Department of Energy’s Waste Isolation Pilot Plan in New Mexico ended up costing about $770 million due to the pandemic, replacement of a major subcontractor and other factors, officials said here Wednesday. The cost of the Safety Significant Confinement Ventilation System (SSCVS), renamed the Underground Ventilation […]
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Transuranic Waste
WIPP outage addressing ‘substandard’ assets
The annual outage at the Department of Energy’s Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) in New Mexico should end in the coming week, following significant replacement work and upgrades to infrastructure that a watchdog deemed “substandard or inadequate.” “The annual winter maintenance outage began on Jan. 5 this year and is scheduled to end in mid-March, […]
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Transuranic Waste
WIPP outage tackles ‘substandard’ assets
The annual outage at the Department of Energy’s Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) in New Mexico could end in the coming week, following significant replacement work and upgrades to infrastructure that a watchdog deemed “substandard or inadequate.” “The annual winter maintenance outage began on Jan. 5 this year and is scheduled to end in mid-March, […]
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Transuranic Waste
New WIPP ventilation system, utility shaft ended up costing about $770M
PHOENIX — Installation of two major infrastructure projects at Department of Energy’s Waste Isolation Pilot Plan in New Mexico ended up costing about $770 million due to the pandemic, replacement of a major subcontractor and other factors, officials said here Wednesday. The cost of the Safety Significant Confinement Ventilation System (SSCVS), renamed the Underground Ventilation […]
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Transuranic Waste
Hanford TRU shipments could start as early as 2027
PHOENIX — The Department of Energy’s Hanford Site in Richland, Wash., is scheduled to start shipping defense-related transuranic waste to the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in 2028 and could start as early as 2027, a DOE contractor boss said here Wednesday. Michael Douglas, the head of waste projects for Amentum-led Central Plateau Cleanup Company, made […]
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Transuranic Waste
Hanford TRU shipments could start as early as 2027
PHOENIX — The Department of Energy’s Hanford Site in Richland, Wash., is scheduled to start shipping defense-related transuranic waste to the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in 2028 and could start as early as 2027, a DOE contractor boss said here Wednesday. Michael Douglas, the head of waste projects for Amentum-led Central Plateau Cleanup Company, made […]
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Transuranic Waste
New WIPP ventilation system, utility shaft ended up costing about $770M
PHOENIX — Installation of two major infrastructure projects at Department of Energy’s Waste Isolation Pilot Plan in New Mexico ended up costing about $770 million due to the pandemic, replacement of a major subcontractor and other factors, officials said here Wednesday. The cost of the Safety Significant Confinement Ventilation System (SSCVS), renamed the Underground Ventilation […]
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Transuranic Waste
WIPP outage addressing ‘substandard’ assets
The annual outage at the Department of Energy’s Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) in New Mexico should end in the next couple weeks, following significant replacement work and upgrades to infrastructure that a watchdog deemed “substandard or inadequate.” “The annual winter maintenance outage began on January 5 this year and is scheduled to end in […]
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Transuranic Waste
Wrap Up: Idaho plans for remote-handled TRU; Hanford solar project rights sold; waste board seeks new exec director; Nelson-Jean has new job; more
The Department of Energy’s Idaho National Laboratory is preparing to start shipping remote-handled transuranic waste, which is more radioactive than the contact-handled variety, to the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) in New Mexico. DOE’s Office of Environmental Management said in a Feb. 25 news release that Amentum-led cleanup contractor Idaho Environmental Coalition is using a […]



