Regional Coalition of LANL Communities April 25, 2014 Joe Franco, - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Regional Coalition of LANL Communities April 25, 2014 Joe Franco, Manager U.S . Department of Energy Carlsbad Field Office

February 5, 2014 February 14, 2014 Underground fire in a Radiological release occurred at WIPP salt hauler vehicle

Update • Continuous environmental monitoring • Personnel safety • Event source identified • Isolating the source • Decontaminat ion & recovery • LANL shipments

• 84 air samples • 43 surface wat er & sediment samples • 39 veget at ion samples • 49 soil samples All recent results • 4 wildlife samples have come back as • 219 total environmental samples below Minimum Detectable Concentration (MDC)

• Phased approach o Phase 1 – S ent probe down into mine o Phases 2-3 – Manned entries • Established work areas • S et up continuous air monitors • Tested communication and safety equipment • Proceeded south toward suspected event scene Phase 1 Phase 2A Phase 2B Phase 3

Phase 2B Phase 1 Phase 2A Phase 3

• S afe, methodical approach to re-entry • During the Phase 3 entry we reached the scene of the event • Cause of event was not readily visible Phase 2B Phase 1 Phase 2A Phase 3

• Enables WIPP to support LANL to eliminate a radiological release hazard during a wildfire • First shipment arrived April 2 o Los Alamos Nat ional Laborat ory – Carlsbad mobile loading t eams processed t he shipping cont ainers o Wast e cont ainers have been safely secured at t he WCS facilit y o Averaging about 10 shipment s a week o June 30 deadline

• HEP A filter replacement • Isolating the event source • Decontamination

• Ensuring the safety of employees, the public and the environment • Re-affirming WIPP’s role as a national leader in nuclear waste management • Building on a relationship of trust and transparency between WIPP and New Mexico • Meeting a critical national need with WIPP’s common sense, science-based solution For updates go to www.wipp.energy.gov