www.energy.gov/em 1 u.s. department of energy carlsbad field office tru sites and transportation...
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www.energy.gov/EM 1
U.S. Department of EnergyCarlsbad Field Office
TRU Sites and Transportation DivisionJames Mason
Institutional Affairs ManagerCarlsbad Field Office
Contractors Transportation Management AssociationJuly 6, 2015
Point Clear, Alabama
www.energy.gov/EM 2
WIPP’s 15-year History
11,894 Shipments received33,000 Type B packages unloaded 91,000 Cubic meters of TRU waste
disposed14,200,000 Loaded miles
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February 5, 2014 Truck Fire:
• All operations at the repository ceased following salt haul truck fire in the WIPP underground
• An investigation team deployed to determine the cause of the fire
February 14, 2014 Radiological Incident:
• A continuous air monitor detected airborne radiation in the underground
• WIPP’s ventilation system automatically switched to high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filtration mode when airborne radiation was detected
• Underground and the WIPP mine remains in filtration mode at this time.
• Extensive sampling and monitoring conducted by DOE, New Mexico, and Carlsbad Environmental Monitoring Research Center Monitoring.– EPA and the NMED also performed sampling
• Efforts by the DOE and Nuclear Waste Partnership are ensuring workers are fully protected during recovery and restart
Recap of the Incidents at WIPP
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Incidents at WIPP
February 5 Underground Fire
February 14 Radiological Release
• Accident Investigation Board (AIB) Report issued March 13, 2014 • AIB Report, Phase I issued April 24,
2014• AIB Report, Phase II issued April 16,
2015
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Recap of Incidents: Layout of the Underground
www.wipp.energy.gov
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Key Steps Toward Recovery of WIPP
• Documented Safety Analysis Revisions• Safety Management Program
Revitalization• Underground Restoration
- Re-Establish Degraded Equipment- Fire Protection- Maintenance and Ground Control - Radiological Roll-back- Soot cleaning of electrical panels
• Expedite mine stability• Initial Panel 6 and Panel 7, Room 7
Closure• Interim Ventilation • Supplemental Ventilation
Modifications
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Radiological Rollback
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Contamination Mitigation
Fresh-water wash effective in removing contamination• ~20 l/m (2 gal/ft)• >95% removal (first pass)Resulting
contaminated brine trapped within the rock
WIPP procured new equipment to mitigate contamination• Spray cart
• Applies a water mist to stabilize and encapsulate the radioactive particles into the salt
• HEPA vacuum system• Used to capture loose contamination that
has not been encapsulated into the salt
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Ground Control
• Salt has moved since the incidents and some rock-bolts have failed, as expected
• Bolting activities completed in a number of operationally significant areas
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Recovery Status - Bolting
Bolting activities are continuing in both uncontaminated and contaminated areas• Underground “catch-up” bolting continues with approximately 2,200 bolts installed
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Initial Panel Closures
• Initial panel closure activities completed:• Panel 6 (May 11)• Panel 7, Room 7 (May 29)
• All suspect nitrate salt containers of concern disposed in the WIPP underground are now isolated
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WIPP National TRU ProgramTransportation and Radiological Response
Support Programs
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WIPP Land Withdrawal Act
Public Law 102-579; Section 16, TransportationProvides for program support and technical assistance to Tribes and States for prevention, preparedness and response for WIPP Transuranic Waste transportation activities.
• Support and assistance is limited to State Regional Groups, State and Tribes with jurisdictions servicing negotiated open transportation corridors.• Most states are coordinated through regional State organizations;• Western Governors Association• Southern States Energy Board• Council of State Governments, Midwest• Council of State Governments, Northeast• Five Tribal Nations and the State of New Mexico work under
separate stand-alone agreements.
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WIPP Transportation Corridors
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Program Support
WIPP Program Coordination • Assist in providing personnel and material support to State Regional
Groups, States and Tribes to coordinate WIPP related activities.
Training• Provide training for response to WIPP related transportation activities.
Equipment• Assistance in the purchase and maintenance of equipment needed for
response to WIPP related transportation activities, within the scope of provided training.
Exercise• Assistance in planning and the conduct of WIPP Transportation Exercises
(WIPPTREX).
Public Outreach and Education• Local exhibition of truck/TRUpact II containers , Public Education and
Intergovernmental Affairs
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Program Support Cont.
TRAININGModular Emergency Response Radiological Transportation Training (MERRTT)• First Responder training for transportation incidents involving radiological
materials. • Train-the-Trainer• Compressed (Refresher) TrainingCVSA Level VI Inspection Certification• For the inspection of motor carriers transporting transuranic waste and
Highway Route Controlled Quantities (HRCQ) shipments of radioactive materials.
Radiological Training for Hospital Personnel• Patient Care for radiologically contaminated patients.Medical Examiner/Coroner• Handling of radiologically contaminated bodies, decontamination and
documentation.
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Program Support Cont.
TRAININGTRANSCOM Users/Operators• Monitoring and tracking of WIPP shipments.Emergency Communications 911 Dispatcher • Handling of calls when radioactive materials are involved.Public Information Officer (PIO)• Public Information for incidents involving radiological materials.WIPP Transportation Exercises (WIPPTREX)• Assistance is provided to stakeholder organizations in the planning
and conduct of WIPP Transportation Exercises in order to validate capabilities and proficiency of responding jurisdictions along WIPP transportation corridors.
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Technical Assistance
Radiological Assistance Program (RAP) DOE/NNSA• RAP provides resources (trained personnel and equipment) to
evaluate, assess, advise, isotopically identify, search for, and assist in the mitigation of actual or perceived nuclear or radiological hazards.
• Along with teams from around the nation, WIPP’s RAP team is capable of providing assistance in all types of facility or transportation incidents involving radiation or radioactive material.
Incident/Accident Response Team (IART) DOE/CBFO• The IART provides technical guidance for package recovery in a
transportation emergency.
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Questions?
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Additional information is available
http://www.wipp.energy.gov
http://www.westgov.org/component/content/article/102-articles/initiatives/136-wipp-transportation-safety-program
James MasonInstitutional Affairs Manager
U.S. DOE/Carlsbad Field OfficeOffice Phone: 575-234-7335
E-Mail: [email protected]