WIPP Restart and Long-term Outlook: States Perspective

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2 WIPP Restart and Long-term Outlook: States Perspective Ryan Flynn Secretary Environment Department, State of New Mexico

3 3 WIPP Status Update Frank Marcinowski Deputy Assistant Secretary for Waste Management Department of Energy for 9 th Annual RadWaste Summit Summerlin, Nevada September 10, 2015

4 4 February 5, 2014 Truck Fire: Recap of the Incidents at WIPP 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

5 Key Recovery Steps 5 Documented Safety Analysis Revisions Safety Management Program Revitalization Underground Restoration - Re-Establish Degraded Equipment - Fire Protection - Maintenance and Ground Control - Radiological Risk Mitigation - Soot cleaning of electrical panels Expedited mine stability Initial Panel 6 and Panel 7, Room 7 Closure Interim Ventilation Supplemental Ventilation Modifications

6 6 Radiological Risk Reduction Radiological risk reduction activities continue in the underground Use of a water spray has proven to be effective for reducing surface contamination/re-suspension levels Brattice cloth is being placed on contaminated sections of the floor and covered with run of mine salt

7 Radiological Posting 7

8 8 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

9 Ground Control 9 Over 3,500 bolts installed as part of the catch-up bolting activities

10 Initial Panel Closures 10 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 10

11 Interim Ventilation System 11 Civil engineering work Concrete placements completed Final grading and cleanup completed Fan/Filter Units Repairs and QA testing completed Units have been transported to the WIPP site

12 Supplemental Ventilation System 12 Electrical power to support fan operation was rerouted Bulkhead work had been completed SVS fan has been moved to the underground and installation is complete although no power has been applied

13 Hybrid Bolter 13 WIPP purchased a new hybrid (diesel/electric) bolter The unit has been moved underground and reassembled; auto fire suppression has been installed Electrical power is being moved to support bolter Bolter will allow acceleration of ground control work

14 AIB Reports and Corrective Action Plans 14 CBFO/NWP Corrective Action Plans (CAPs) for judgments of need (JON) from Accident Investigation Board (AIB) reports on the haul truck fire and Phase I radiological event were approved in February of 2015 now in implementation AIB Report for the Radiological Release Event, Phase II, issued April Phase II focused on determining the direct cause of the radiological release.

15 15 Prioritization of Shipments: TRU Waste Generator Impacts It is premature at this stage of the recovery to predict and allocate the rate of TRU waste shipments to WIPP. Initial focus will be on emplacement of wastes generated during recovery activities and emplacement of wastes currently stored in the WIPP surface facilities (these wastes were received but not emplaced prior to the events). The timing for resumption of shipments from offsite currently is uncertain and will be based on a variety of factors.

16 16 TRU Waste Generator Impacts In determining the rate of shipments among sites, DOE will consider numerous technical and programmatic factors - WIPP transportation and waste acceptance capabilities - Generator site compliance commitments - Storage capacities - Other site specific technical or safety issues Construction of additional surface storage at WIPP is one option being considered.

17 Looking Ahead 17 Develop new PMB based on current schedule/cost impacts fall 2015 Complete interim and supplemental ventilation early 2016 Complete Operational Readiness Reviews Resume waste emplacement

18 18 Questions & Answers

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20 Environmental Management Los Alamos Field Office Los Alamos National Laboratory Legacy Cleanup Completion Project Christine Gelles Acting Manager EM-LA

21 EM-LA Transition The EM-LA Mission Field Office created to enable increased efficiencies in the environmental cleanup through employment of a specialized contractor (or contractors) and synergies with other EM operations Field Office will enable the LANL M&O contractor to strengthen its focus on the core national security missions at the site Consent Order Comprehensive, enforceable cleanup order that is grounded in the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)

22 EM-LA Transition (continued) Organization Environmental Management Los Alamos (EM-LA) Field Office operational as of March 22, 2015 Implementing first phase of organizational changes Program Offices Integration EM and NNSA are collaborating closely both locally and at Headquarters Oversight NNSA Los Alamos (NA-LA) Field Office currently retains nuclear safety oversight for legacy cleanup activities EM-LA and EM HQs safety officials actively involved in safety reviews and approvals Acquisition EM in midst of establishing prime contracts for legacy cleanup

23 Working with NMED Administrative Compliance Order (December 2014) Technical teams identified required correction actions DOE and NMED agreed on Principles of Agreement in May, 2015 Consent Order Principles of Agreement note potential for good faith negotiations on Consent Order changes Collaborative Relationship Weekly discussions at multiple levels Open and transparent communication DOE continues to work toward implementation of current regulatory requirements

24 Recent Accomplishments High-Angle Remediation Project at Los Alamos Townsite 160 cubic yards of mercury-contaminated soil removed from a Los Alamos townsite canyon The contaminated soil derived from Manhattan Project and early Cold War era operations at former Technical Area (TA) 32 Project completed several weeks ahead of schedule Date of final private property close-out inspection to be determined A spider excavator removes mercury-contaminated soil

25 Recent Accomplishments (continued) TA Warehouse D&D The buildings in TA-21 were largely constructed in 1945 for second-generation plutonium processing late in the Manhattan Project was a process contaminated building Asbestos contamination removed and demolition recently completed successfully Demolition debris to be disposed of at offsite facility EM-LA has increased federal oversight to ensure the safety of workers and public TA being demolished

26 Recent Accomplishments (continued) Groundwater Submitted workplan for Chromium characterization and interim measure Continued implementation of surface water and stormwater protection measures Pueblo Wetland Mitigation Project

27 Safely Managing Nitrate Salts Implementing NMED-Approved Isolation Plan Over-packed storage in Permacon Regular monitoring and repacking Temperature Control Implemented supplemental cooling as compensatory measure Future Treatment of Waste Integrating all scientific, safety, regulatory and project activities over the next two years Over-packed RNS drums in the Permacon within Dome 375

28 TRU Resumption Plan Processing of Legacy TRU Has Been Suspended Since May 2014 Accident Investigation Board Identified 24 Conclusions and 40 Judgements of Need 22 JONs related or directed to LANL to: o Address systemic issues o Improve requirements definition o Implement improvements o Ensure compliance and improve oversight Detailed Corrective Action Plans Developed and Many Actions Underway ACO and AIB actions have been integrated Deliberate Strategy Defined to Support Resumed Operations

29 Final Thoughts Safety Is the Top Priority for DOE EM and NNSA work together to ensure all safety standards are met EM Oversight Increased through Organizational Changes Detailed Plans Identified to Accomplish Needed Program Improvements Detailed Project Plans for TRU Resumption Based on Science and Safety Evaluations Meanwhile, Compliance and Cleanup Continue in Other Priority Areas