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Repeated security concerns at WIPP
The Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) is a deep geological disposal facility in New Mexico designed for the safe deposit of radioactive waste used with nuclear weapons. According to the US Department of Energy, it is the only plant of its kind in the United States. It is used for storing radioactive waste material from nuclear weapons safely away from the outside environment. The Department states that the waste “consists primarily of clothing, tools, rags debris, residues and other non-liquid disposable items contaminated with trace amounts of radioisotopes”.
In February 2014, the WIPP suffered two serious security problems within two weeks of each other. As of this writing, the plant is still closed and a backlog of nuclear waste is piling up. Both incidents resulted in workers being taken to the hospital and both sparked debate about some of the dangers of using radioactive materials for defense and power.
Burning Salt Truck Underground
The first incident occurred on February 5 around 10:48 a.m. A fire broke out in a salt truck about half a mile underground in the facility when a buildup of combustible fluids (either diesel fuel or hydraulic fluid) came in contact with a catalytic converter. Six workers were evacuated to a nearby hospital but were released the next day without serious injury. The site’s manager was held responsible for the fire.
Aside from respiratory problems from burning particles, the fire presented no risk to the health of the workers and no radiation was leaked. The US Department of Energy released an official comprehensive report of the event in March, detailing the causes and effects on the event both on the individuals and equipment involved and the policies at WIPP.
Radiation Leak into the Plant and Beyond
The second incident, far more serious, occurred nine days later, on February 15. Workers were again evacuated when air quality monitors detected rising levels of radiation. According to the Wall Street Journal, 21 workers were exposed to radiation, including 13 workers above ground.
Investigators determined that a barrel containing plutonium waste was breached in Room 7, Panel 7 of the facility and leaked radioactive material into the air ducts, contaminating parts of the facility and some of the workers above it. Six months later, the cause of the breach is still unknown and the facility is still closed pending a resolution to the investigation and a cleanup of the radioactive materials affected.
Accidents like these are bound to happen whenever a large amount of radioactive material is present. WIPP opened in 1999 and handles waste from 22 generator sites. It is the only repository for transuranic radioactive waste in the United States. If radioactive leaks can occur at WIPP, they can contaminate the nearby cities of Carlsbad, Artesia and Loving, putting some 32,000 people at risk. People living near nuclear power plants or nuclear waste disposal facilities should carefully consider what they can do to prepare for potential radioactive hazards.
The future of WIPP is still uncertain. The Department of Energy stated that WIPP will reopen only when it is safe to do so, which may take some time. In the meantime, New Mexican citizens and people across the nation will be talking about the future of nuclear defense and the hazards it brings.
There is nothing quite as important as a person’s health (just ask someone who doesn’t have it). It is essential for all of us to be proactive in defending ourselves from the world’s hazards. Like putting on sunscreen, taking steps to protect yourself from environmental hazards is well worth the effort.