The Energy Department’s Carlsbad, N.M., Field Office is accepting public comments through Aug. 29 on the potential environmental impact of building a 3-mile-long bypass road near the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP).
The public comment period began July 31 for the draft environmental assessment, according to a recent notice from DOE. The subcontract for the North Access Bypass Road project is due to be awarded in early 2019, and construction should be completed before the end of that year, said Donavan Mager, spokesman for Nuclear Waste Partnership, the department’s prime contractor for the transuranic waste disposal facility.
“The purpose of the proposed NARB project is to improve traffic safety and reduce vehicle congestion on the roadway at the location where the traffic slows in order to turn into the area near the WIPP facility parking lot,” according to the notice.
The road will divert traffic away from construction projects scheduled at WIPP during the next couple years, including the sinking of a new 2,300-foot utility shaft that will augment the planned Safety Significant Confinement Ventilation System.
Written comments on the bypass road can be submitted to [email protected].
Meanwhile, DOE is also trying to gauge small business interest in a new transportation tracking and communication (TRANSCOM) contract at Carlsbad. The agency’s Office of Environmental Management on Wednesday issued a request for information/sources sought notice for work involving around-the-clock tracking of radioactive materials, including transuranic waste headed to WIPP.
While the transportation communication system is based at the Carlsbad, it does more than keep up on TRU waste bound for the site. It also uses transponders and satellite technology to monitor special nuclear material, spent fuel, and other DOE-authorized shipments across the nation.
The current contract is held by Elba, Ala.-based Ma-Chis LCITE (Ma-Chis Lower Creek Indian Tribe Enterprises). A retired tribal official said by phone Thursday he was not familiar with the current terms of the contract.
Responses to the notice should be made by noon Eastern time on Aug. 31. Capability statements for the TRANSCOM notice should be emailed to Contract Specialist Erin Kroger [email protected].
