WIPP March 2016 Re-Start Date ‘No Longer Viable,’ DOE Says

The March 2016 re-open date for the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant is no longer viable after a variety of unanticipated issues have caused delays in resuming waste emplacement operations, the Department of Energy announced late last week. DOE will re-examine the revised cost and schedule estimates taking into account the delays, and it plans to have a new start date by sometime this fall. “We are disappointed that we will not meet the original target date for beginning waste emplacement, but do not want to lose sight of the substantial progress that has been made in the recovery of the WIPP site, including great strides in mine stabilization, radiological risk mitigation and the closure of Panel 6 and Panel 7 Room 7, all of which have significantly increased safety in the underground,” Acting Carlsbad Field Office Manager Dana Bryson said in a statement.

 

Bryson added, "The Department is committed to resuming operations at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant as soon as it is safe to do so. In light of the safety-related activities that must be completed before waste emplacement begins, a new target date for the re-start of waste emplacement operations in 2016 must be established.  We will continue to keep the public informed about our recovery activities.” According to DOE, key issues impacting the restart pushback include: The need to address the findings and recommendations from the Accident Investigation Board;, implement DOE’s more rigorous standards for site specific Documented Safety Analyses; and resolve problems with the contractor’s oversight of the procurement and quality assurance processes for the manufacture and delivery of the Interim Ventilation System.