Abstract
The Department of Energy has stirred up a storm of opposition by taking administrative action, bypassing Congress, that would enable it to start testing an underground nuclear waste repository in New Mexico. DOE's action has been denounced by members of Congress and New Mexico state officials. It has drawn a lawsuit by New Mexico. And a suit by environmental groups is in the offing. At issue is the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP), a permanent federal repository being prepared in a salt bed 2150 feet underground near Carlsbad, N.M. WIPP was authorized by Congress as a DOE research and development facility to demonstrate safe handling, transport, and disposal of mixed transuranic wastes (contaminated with radioactive plutonium-239 and hazardous chemicals), now stored temporarily around the country at DOE's nuclear weapons complexes. WIPP operations were originally expected to start in 1988. On Sept. 19, DOE Secretary James D. Watkins wrote New Mexico political leaders that the technical ...
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
