DOE Reduces Scope of WIPP Transportation Contract

With operations at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant shut down for the foreseeable future, the Department of Energy has moved to reduce the workscope of one of its two contractors tasked with transporting waste to the facility. Visionary Solutions has cut the number of its two-person driving teams from 11 to three, and reduced the number of dedicated trucks or tractors to three, according to a DOE release issued late last week. “In anticipation of the decline in shipments, the Carlsbad Field Office asked Visionary Solutions to propose cost estimates that reflect the reduced need for transportation services,” the release says. “WIPP will maintain its transportation capability to support continued training requirements, emergency response exercises, and potential inter-site shipments. WIPP continues to focus all efforts on recovering the facility and returning to full operations,” the release says. Along with Visionary Solutions, CAST Specialty Transportation Services, Inc. also provides transportation services for WIPP.