Lab completes 100th shipment to WIPP repository

On pace to break record set last year

June 25, 2010—LANL, for the second consecutive year, has hit a milestone of 100 transuranic waste shipments to the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) near Carlsbad. Shipment number 100 for fiscal year 2010 left the Lab safely on Wednesday.

At the current pace, the Lab will surpass last year’s record total.

In fiscal year 2009, the Lab completed 131 shipments of contact-handled and remote-handled TRU waste. This year's goal is 153 shipments.

Dedication and hard work

Steve Clemmons, acting director for the Waste Disposition Program, is quick to acknowledge his team.

“This is a tremendous pacing milestone achievement for the Laboratory and Environmental Programs," Clemmons said. "The WDP is on target for another record year for TRU waste shipments to WIPP, which contributes to risk reduction for the Laboratory. The success in shipments is an indicator of the dedication and hard work of the WDP waste operation crews and support staff.”

Clean up agreement

LANL has an estimated 10,000 containers in aboveground storage, awaiting processing and eventual shipment to WIPP. The containers must be removed from the Lab's Technical Area 54 before cleanup can be completed. Under an agreement with the state of New Mexico, that cleanup must be complete by the end of 2015.