ID OF WIPP CONTAMINATION SOURCE EXPECTED THIS WEEK

After setting up a second base of operations in the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant underground Friday, workers hope to identify the source of the contamination this week. The underground has been shut down since a Feb. 14 radiation release, and on Friday a team established another base in an uncontaminated area to allow them to go deeper into the mine. “The second base is critical for the third phase of the re-entry process at WIPP,” states a DOE release. “It provides a clean area where employees can safely remove any contaminated clothing and  equipment before returning to the surface. While underground, workers also set up another two Continuous Air Monitors, which provides additional detection and monitoring of the mine’s airborne conditions, and tested communication equipment. The third phase entry to identify the contamination source is expected next week.”

 

Meanwhile, an advocacy group is urging that an independent investigation into the release be conducted, separate from the DOE accident investigation underway. “Those people, and the DOE, do not have all the expertise needed to create a plan to decontaminate a salt mine from the first-of-its-kind accident.  There will be no easy, fast solution as to what will happen at WIPP.  We do know that an independent investigation is needed now,” states a release by Concerned Citizens for Nuclear Safety. "Please contact your elected officials, including the Governor, congresspersons and senators, and urge them to support an independent investigation of the WIPP radiation release.”