The Department of Energy’s Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) near Carlsbad, N.M., has received 93 shipments of transuranic waste so far in 2018.
The shipment total works out to an average of 5.8 shipments per week to the underground disposal site in the 16 weeks between Jan. 1 and April 20 — the latest date for which shipping data are publicly available. This would indicate WIPP has quickened the pace somewhat since reopening to outside shipments in April 2017.
Between April 7, 2017, and Dec. 31, 2017, WIPP took in 133 shipments, which averages out to 3.8 shipments per week over roughly 38 weeks.
WIPP was shut down for roughly three years following a February 2014 underground radiation release.
So far in fiscal 2018, which began Oct. 1, 2017, WIPP has received 153 shipments. DOE has indicated in public presentations that WIPP is expected to receive roughly 280 shipments for the current fiscal year, which ends Sept. 30.
Meanwhile, WIPP prime Nuclear Waste Partnership expects to issue a subcontract this spring for construction of a new permanent ventilation system. DOE says the new system is vital to allowing WIPP to do full-scale underground salt mining and waste emplacement at the same time.
