ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The U.S. govt’s nuclear waste repository in New Mexico has main problems in fireplace coaching and firefighting cars, with its fleet in disrepair after years of forget, consistent with an investigation via the U.S. Power Division’s Workplace of Inspector Basic.
The investigation was once spurred via allegations relating to fireplace coverage issues on the repository, which is the spine of a multibillion-dollar effort to wash up Chilly Conflict-era waste from previous nuclear analysis and bomb making at nationwide laboratories and protection websites around the U.S.
Investigators famous that the problems with the fireplace division coaching program went again to no less than 2016. They pointed to an undeveloped coaching curriculum for the technical rescue program and claims via firefighters that their coaching wishes were not being met.
In step with the inspector common’s file, the problems persevered since the contractor that manages the repository inadequately addressed and closed suggestions from prior interior tests that have been aimed toward solving the deficiencies. The file additionally blamed insufficient oversight via Power Division officers.
“WIPP has skilled expansion with the collection of constructions and workers since 2006 and is predicted to function past 2050. The following control and running contractor will have to be capable to supply efficient emergency reaction at WIPP to give protection to lives, assets and the surroundings,” the Workplace of Inspector Basic said.
Power Division officers in a reaction to the inspector common stated the company has adopted thru with corrective movements and can proceed to “’make growth on making sure native fireplace departments and primary responders have all important coaching and gear to deal with any tournament on the subject of WIPP’s operations.”
Nonetheless, company officers stated there was once extra paintings to do.
The protection issues come as New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and others voice opposition to increasing the varieties of radioactive waste that may be shipped to the repository. In a letter despatched this month to U.S. Power Secretary Jennifer Granholm, the first-term Democratic governor famous ongoing frustration in regards to the loss of significant public engagement from federal officers on waste cleanup, shipments and long-term plans for the repository.
Simply this month, the paintings of processing incoming waste shipments was once quickly halted after staff came upon radioactive liquid in a container despatched from the Idaho Nationwide Laboratory.
The newest file from a federal oversight board additionally cited 3 fresh incidents, together with one during which a container from Los Alamos Nationwide Laboratory was once positioned underground with out good enough research for its flammability. The container ended up posing no chance.
Nuclear Waste Partnership, the contractor that manages the repository, expanded its fireplace brigade to a division with full-time emergency responders following two emergencies in 2014. One was once a fireplace involving a salt-hauling truck that was once adopted days later via a radiation liberate from a drum that were inappropriately packed at Los Alamos.
The incidents induced main coverage and process overhauls associated with the nationwide cleanup program.
In step with the inspector common, a 2019 evaluation discovered that almost part of the repository’s firefighters had now not participated in required are living coaching for no less than twelve months and that some had now not participated in over two years. Any other evaluation in April 2021 discovered that now not all firefighter coaching information have been maintained in response to the hazardous waste allow issued via the state Setting Division.
In interviews, a number of firefighters informed investigators that almost all of coaching was once web-based versus hands-on fireplace drills, car extrications or rope coaching. The firefighters expressed worry that with out good enough coaching, they might lose their talents.
As for the fireplace division’s fleet, federal officers stated they have been within the strategy of revising upkeep procedures and that about $1.2 million was once spent to buy two new fireplace vans in 2021.
