DOE INVESTIGATION: SAFETY CULTURE, VENTILATION ISSUES FACTORS IN WIPP RELEASE

Poor safety culture and an inadequate ventilation system were significant factors in the Feb. 14 radiological release at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant resulting in the ongoing shutdown, the head of the Department of Energy investigation into the incident said yesterday. The DOE report, set to be made public today, cites failures with WIPP management by DOE headquarters, the Department’s Carlsbad Field Office and managing contractor Nuclear Waste Partnership. “The board identified the root cause of Phase 1 to be NWP’s and CBFO’s management failure to fully understand, characterize, and control the radiological hazard,” Ted Wyka, chairman of the DOE accident investigation board, said in a presentation yesterday at a Carlsbad town hall meeting.

He added: “The cumulative effect of inadequacies in ventilation system design and operability compounded by degradation of key safety management programs and safety culture resulted in the release of radioactive material from the underground to the environment; and the delayed/ineffective recognition and response to the release.” The report will have 30 conclusions, along with 49 “judgments of need.” Along with safety culture concerns, the report outlines issues found with NWP’s nuclear safety program, radiation protection program, and conduct-of-operations; as well as with WIPP’s emergency management and preparedness program

Also yesterday, a team entered the room where the radiation release is believed to have originated, but did not identify the source of the contamination. There was no visible damage in Panel 7’s room 7 that immediately indicated that the release was caused by a roof fall or falling bolt. “The discovery team found and evaluated contamination levels by the exhaust drift in Room 6 and Room 7, but did not see any visible damage among the first few rows of containers. They did not have time to examine all waste containers in the room; the discovery team’s time in the mine was limited to avoid heat concerns in the protective clothing,” states a DOE release.