Following the discovery of a waste drum containing nitrate salts that may have led to a reaction in the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant, the New Mexico Environment Department yesterday ordered the expedited closure of two waste panels in the WIPP underground that contain hundreds of similar drums. Expeditions into the WIPP underground have showed drums damaged by heat in Panel 7, and a leading theory is that a reaction led to the Feb. 14 radiation release at the site. In order to prevent any potential spread of radiation, NMED sent an administrative order to the Department of Energy and contractor Nuclear Waste Partnership asking for a plan for expedited closure of parts of Panel 7 as well as Panel 6, which contains similar containers and is full but has not yet been sealed off.
While the plan is due by May 30, the order does not specify when the closure should be completed. The investigation into the cause of the release is ongoing. NMED Secretary Ryan Flynn said in a statement yesterday: “NMED issued this second order today to WIPP to ensure that DOE / NWP submits an action plan to sufficiently secure nitrate salt-bearing waste containers by expediting the closure of portions of the WIPP underground including Panel 6, which contains 313 nitrate salt-bearing waste containers and Panel 7, Room 7 which contains 55 nitrate salt-bearing waste containers."
