Los Alamos lab running out of storage for nuclear waste
By Associated Press
Monday, October 5, 2015 at 10:05 am (Updated: October 5, 10:06 am)
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Los Alamos National Laboratory has only a narrow time frame before it runs out of room to store its nuclear waste.
The lab's radioactive transuranic waste is supposed to be sent to the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant near Carlsbad, but that site was shut down last year after the underground storage area was contaminated, reported the Albuquerque Journal. Transuranic waste can include items like protective boots and gloves, machinery and sludge.
A Los Alamos waste drum at WIPP popped open because it contained an incorrectly packed mix of combustible materials, creating an estimated half-billion dollars of clean up work. The state Environment Department fined the lab $36.6 million for the accident and DOE cut its fee to the lab's contract operator by 90 percent.
The Los Alamos lab is expected to reach its maximum waste storage capacity sometime in the federal fiscal year that begins in fall 2016, according to a report from the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board.
The storage facility was initially slated to reopen in March 2016. This summer, however, the U.S. Department of Energy said safety concerns and equipment setbacks delayed the opening indefinitely.
By Associated Press
Monday, October 5, 2015 at 10:05 am (Updated: October 5, 10:06 am)
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Los Alamos National Laboratory has only a narrow time frame before it runs out of room to store its nuclear waste.
The lab's radioactive transuranic waste is supposed to be sent to the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant near Carlsbad, but that site was shut down last year after the underground storage area was contaminated, reported the Albuquerque Journal. Transuranic waste can include items like protective boots and gloves, machinery and sludge.
A Los Alamos waste drum at WIPP popped open because it contained an incorrectly packed mix of combustible materials, creating an estimated half-billion dollars of clean up work. The state Environment Department fined the lab $36.6 million for the accident and DOE cut its fee to the lab's contract operator by 90 percent.
The Los Alamos lab is expected to reach its maximum waste storage capacity sometime in the federal fiscal year that begins in fall 2016, according to a report from the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board.
The storage facility was initially slated to reopen in March 2016. This summer, however, the U.S. Department of Energy said safety concerns and equipment setbacks delayed the opening indefinitely.
Anonymous said...
No nuclear storage? Guess all nuclear related work will need to be immediately halted at LANL. Mission Accomplished. Work Free Safety Zones achieved. Executive bonuses for all LANS managers. Winning !!!
- Charlie "Awesome" McMillan
- Charlie "Awesome" McMillan
Anonymous said...
Think about it. Charlie inherited much of this mess from his predecessor, the Ewok, who bailed with a golden parachute before his inattention caused damage.
Anonymous said...
Think about it, Charlie hasn't done squat.
Anonymous said...
At the last UC Regents meeting, Norm Pattiz stated that the nuclear waste program at LANL was not needed; that he was tired of getting "punched" over the WIPP drum incident. Norm doesn't have a clue.
