After New Mexico this week ordered the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant to develop a plan to close two underground panels holding suspect waste drums, Rep. Steve Pearce (R-N.M.) is questioning the decision. Earlier this week, the New Mexico Environment Department ordered the Department of Energy and WIPP’s contractor to develop a plan for the expedited closure of Panel 6 and a portion of Panel 7, which together hold hundreds of waste drums similar to one that is believed to have contributed to the radiation release. “Obviously we need to do everything to create a safe resolution. But as far as the closing Panel Six and Seven, people in DOE are not sure if it is technically or legally possible. In other words, they are not sure it makes sense,” Pearce told WC Monitor yesterday. “To me, it feels like the state has gotten way ahead of itself.”
Panel 6 is completely full of waste but hasn’t yet been sealed, while the release is believed to have originated in a part of Panel Seven. Though closure of the panels has been supported by some local officials in Carlsbad, Pearce says lawmakers and Hill staff have questioned if the NMED order may be a signal the state is not supporting the timely reopening of WIPP. “We’ve had questions from appropriators, we’ve had questions from staff here on whether the intent is to keep the thing open,” he said. “So this gets very tricky between, state, nation, national security, the health of the nation and then getting rid of the nation’s waste. So I think there are discussions that should be going on obviously, but I’m not sure if this was the right way to approach it.”
When asked about the NMED orders, a DOE spokesperson sent this statement yesterday: "The Department is committed to protecting the health and safety of our workers at WIPP, the public and the environment as we work to understand the cause of the February 14 radiation incident. We are reviewing the order and are committed to working with our regulators as we continue monitoring conditions in both Panels 6 and 7 to ensure the drums do not pose any immediate risk to our workers, the public or the environment."
