The WIPP: Beyond operational readiness
- Westinghouse Electric Corporation, Carlsbad, NM (United States)
- Department of Energy, Carlsbad, NM (United States)
The Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) Land Withdrawal Act defined requirements and prerequisites that must be net prior to receiving waste for experimental purposes, and put into force a mechanism for completing a regulatory assessment of the long-term isolation capability of the transuranic waste repository. In October 1993, the WIPP was determined to be operationally ready to receive waste for experimental purposes; however, a decision to abandon planned in situ radioactive waste tests caused a reevaluation of the operational needs of the facility. In lieu of in situ radioactive waste tests, the primary purpose of site operations has shifted to maintaining the facility in a condition such that disposal operations can be safely and efficiently started when regulatory requirements are satisfied, and providing support for in situ non-radioactive tests. In addition, there is now increased focus on regulatory compliance and related activities, based on a revised compliance strategy, which is based on an integrated approach considering operations, testing, and performance assessment in evaluations of compliance with environmental regulations.
- Research Organization:
- Arizona Univ., Tucson, AZ (United States). Coll. of Engineering and Mines; New Mexico State Univ., University Park, NM (United States); Waste-Management Education and Research Consortium (WERC), Las Cruces, NM (United States); USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 111736
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-940225--Vol.1
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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