New Nitrate Salts Information Could Change WIPP Accident Understanding

Los Alamos National Laboratory will consider new information relative to the safety basis for continued safe storage of the remediated nitrate salts contained in the DOE Accident Investigation Board and the Technical Assistance Team reports on the radiological release at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant, according to a Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board site report released last week. The use of an organic absorbent in processing waste containing nitrate salts resulted in a noncompliant, ignitable form that caused the radiological release at WIPP last year, according to an Accident Investigation Board released earlier this year. The site report indicated that the new information suggest accident of a different type occurred and with a greater airborne respirable release fraction. “In particular, the Field Office stated that these sources provide information suggesting that an accident of a different type occurred and with a greater airborne respirable release fraction than assumed in the existing safety basis,” the site report said. “These changes have the potential to increase significantly the consequences and therefore may warrant additional compensatory measures.” The DNFSB field office directed LANL’s evaluation on the new information, and make an evaluation for any safety changes within 60 days.