Post by Ex_Nuke_Troop on Mar 20, 2014 18:24:27 GMT
Las Cruces News : DOE : Another radiation release reported at WIPP
From staff reports
Posted: 03/18/2014 04:21:05 PM MDT
CARLSBAD -- An additional release of radiation occurred at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant on March 11, nearly a month after the first radiation leak was reported.
Department of Energy officials said in a news release Tuesday afternoon that new air sampling data showed a "very small" radiation release on March 11.
Samples collected from the ventilation exhaust recorded 61 disintegrations per minute of americium. DPM measures the amount of radioactive contamination from alpha and beta rays in an area.
Operations at the nuclear waste dump site 26 miles east of Carlsbad were suspended in February after a underground truck fire and radiation leak were reported in separate incidents that occurred 9 days apart.
The DOE believes the most recent contamination was residual radioactive particles that were trapped in the ventilation system from the initial radiation leak. Samples collected before and after that date indicate the radiation at background levels, the department said.
The DOE said it anticipates additional low-level releases on occasion, but officials expect radiation in the environment will remain at safe levels. New Mexico Environment Department Secretary Ryan Flynn said the state was briefed of the news Tuesday morning and thinks there is nothing to worry about at this time.
"The level they detected is low and we don't believe there was any risk to public health or the environment but we need to investigate more," he said. New air data will be posted on Thursday of each week as it becomes available at wipp.energy.gov, according to the news release. Department of Energy officials were not available for comment.
WIPP opened in 1999 and disposes transuranic waste, commonly referred to as "TRU," into the Permian-age salt bedrock 2,150 feet below ground. Most of the waste WIPP receives is primarily low-level, solid materials such as discarded tools and cloths used in the manufacturing of Cold War-era nuclear weapons.
Reporter Zack Ponce can be reached at (575) 689-7402.
www.lcsun-news.com/las_cruces-news/ci_25366445/doe-another-radiation-release-reported-at-wipp
From staff reports
Posted: 03/18/2014 04:21:05 PM MDT
CARLSBAD -- An additional release of radiation occurred at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant on March 11, nearly a month after the first radiation leak was reported.
Department of Energy officials said in a news release Tuesday afternoon that new air sampling data showed a "very small" radiation release on March 11.
Samples collected from the ventilation exhaust recorded 61 disintegrations per minute of americium. DPM measures the amount of radioactive contamination from alpha and beta rays in an area.
Operations at the nuclear waste dump site 26 miles east of Carlsbad were suspended in February after a underground truck fire and radiation leak were reported in separate incidents that occurred 9 days apart.
The DOE believes the most recent contamination was residual radioactive particles that were trapped in the ventilation system from the initial radiation leak. Samples collected before and after that date indicate the radiation at background levels, the department said.
The DOE said it anticipates additional low-level releases on occasion, but officials expect radiation in the environment will remain at safe levels. New Mexico Environment Department Secretary Ryan Flynn said the state was briefed of the news Tuesday morning and thinks there is nothing to worry about at this time.
"The level they detected is low and we don't believe there was any risk to public health or the environment but we need to investigate more," he said. New air data will be posted on Thursday of each week as it becomes available at wipp.energy.gov, according to the news release. Department of Energy officials were not available for comment.
WIPP opened in 1999 and disposes transuranic waste, commonly referred to as "TRU," into the Permian-age salt bedrock 2,150 feet below ground. Most of the waste WIPP receives is primarily low-level, solid materials such as discarded tools and cloths used in the manufacturing of Cold War-era nuclear weapons.
Reporter Zack Ponce can be reached at (575) 689-7402.
www.lcsun-news.com/las_cruces-news/ci_25366445/doe-another-radiation-release-reported-at-wipp