Los Alamos mobile loaders support DOE cost savings at WIPP

Contact: Cliff Stroud (505) 628-8966 (01-115)

Recent News Los Alamos scientist named Asian American Engineer of the Year Los Alamos scientist featured in NASA science update Los Alamos muon detector could thwart nuclear smugglers Wojciech H. Zurek named Phi Beta Kappa visiting scholar Four Los Alamos physicists honored by American Physical Society Los Alamos National Laboratory organizations earn seven out of 13 NNSA Pollution Prevention awards Carter Hydrick returns to the Bradbury Science Museum Feb. 15 Laboratory supports summer science program New NASA IBEX mission to carry Los Alamos instrument Beason takes top threat reduction post at Los Alamos

LOS ALAMOS, N.M., Oct. 30, 2001 -- Carlsbad Operations is contributing toward potential savings of $4 to $6 billion dollars in the Department of Energy’s Waste Isolation Pilot Plant mission. The cost reductions are projected in DOE’s National Transuranic Waste Systems Optimization planning.

TRUPACT - II Mobile Loading Units, which are currently staged for training in Carlsbad, New Mexico at the Advanced Manufacturing Training Center, will be ready for deployment in early November.

The Mobile Loading Unit, which is transported by truck, contains a suite of equipment capable of loading authorized containers of defense generated transuranic waste into a TRUPACT–II container, which the Department of Energy uses to ship transuranic waste to WIPP. The TRUPACT-II container received a Certification of Compliance in 1989 from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

This mobile loading capability is part of the DOE Central Characterization Project to characterize and certify TRU waste for disposal at WIPP. The principal focus is on 17 sites where small quantities of TRU waste are stored, and have no, or only limited,

Ned Elkins, manager of Los Alamos-Carlsbad Operations, described the upcoming Mobile Loader Deployment as a significant step in the DOE’s Central Characterization Program.

“The mobile loading units provide the DOE Carlsbad Field Office with critically needed mobile loading capabilities and use the Advanced Manufacturing and Innovation Training Center in Carlsbad, New Mexico in training the TRUPACT-II Mobile Loading Team for their upcoming Transportation Certification Audit,” said Elkins.

Elkins also emphasized the importance of adequate training facilities in Carlsbad for use by the Mobile Loading Team.

The Energy Department was instrumental in funding this training center which provides outstanding facilities for the Mobile Loading Team’s need,” he added.

Ines Triay, manager, of the DOE’s Carlsbad Field Office, added, “Although WIPP is fully operational with an exceptional safety record, we have learned from more than two years of operational experience that significant scientific, engineering, regulatory, political, and other challenges remain to be addressed.

“My objective is to complete the current WIPP mission for the disposal of the nation’s legacy TRU waste by increasing operational efficiencies throughout the DOE complex, thereby saving $4 to $6 billion,” Triay said.

Beginning Oct. 29 a TRUPACT-II Mobile Loading Team, comprised of Los Alamos-Carlsbad Operations and Westinghouse TRU Solutions personnel, will be audited by the Department of Energy’s Carlsbad Field Office

Team Leader Keith Lacy, of Los Alamos–Carlsbad Operations, said, “Satisfactory completion of this audit and deployment is another step in operational efficiencies that will generate millions of dollars in savings, thereby contributing to DOE’s goal of eventual savings of $4 to $6 billion dollars in the Department of Energy’s Waste Isolation Pilot Plant mission.”

Following a satisfactory audit, which concludes Nov. 2, 2001, the team and TRUPACT-II Mobile Loader will be ready for deployment, throughout the United States, as directed by the DOE.

WIPP, located 26 miles east of Carlsbad, New Mexico, became the nation’s first operating underground repository for permanent disposal of defense-generated transuranic waste on March 26, 1999.

Los Alamos National Laboratory-Carlsbad Operations serves as the Senior Technical Advisor for waste characterization and provides core scientific and engineering expertise to DOE’s Carlsbad Field Office.

Los Alamos National Laboratory is managed by the University of California for DOE’s National Nuclear Security Administration.

Additional news releases related to Organization/Operations

Additional news releases from the Environmental Science and Waste Technology (E) Division