NEW MEXICO HANDS DOE HANFORD WASTE SETBACK

Efforts to bring 3.1 million gallons of Hanford sludge to the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant suffered a major setback Monday with the New Mexico Environment Department’s decision to hold full-blown hearings on the issue. The Department of Energy had asked in March for a change to WIPP’s state permit as a “Class 2” permit modification, which essentially streamlines the request. But the state concluded that a more rigorous “Class 3” modification would be needed, a process that officials concede could take a year to 18 months. “Elevating this permit modification to the Class 3 level will ensure the public’s views are carefully considered before a final decision on the modification request is made,” said NMED Secretary-Designate Ryan Flynn. The Energy Department, under pressure from Oregon and Washington officials to move waste from Hanford, had hoped for quick action. But the issue is controversial in New Mexico, which in 2004 put explicit prohibitions against the Hanford waste in WIPP’s permit to block a previous attempt.