1997 News Releases
Joe Skeen, Louis Whitlock and Wendell Weart Honored As New DOE Carlsbad Area Office Dedicated CARLSBAD, N.M., December 16, 1997 -- Local, state and federal dignitaries honored U.S. Rep. Joe Skeen, former state Sen. Louis Whitlock and scientist Dr. Wendell D. Weart today during ceremonies dedicating the new office building housing the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Carlsbad Area Office. Property owner and developer John C. Harvey christened the building the Skeen-Whitlock Building and the auditorium at the northeast corner of the building the Weart Auditorium. Harvey is president and founder of The Cowperwood Company, contracted to design and build the 85,000-square-foot facility. During the dedication, he also unveiled bronze plaques bearing the names of the building and auditorium, located at 4021 National Parks Highway. The event took place during a ribbon cutting and grand opening. The Skeen-Whitlock Building brings together 300 DOE and contractor employees previously housed at the WIPP site 26 miles east of Carlsbad and in three buildings in town. The structure also features a public reading room and educational displays in the lobby area. The Weart Auditorium seats 150 people. Harvey, a Carlsbad native and son of former Carlsbad Mayor H. C. Harvey, owns the property and leases it to the U.S. General Services Administration for use by the DOE's Carlsbad Area Office. The Carlsbad Area Office administers the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant and National Transuranic Waste programs. "It’s a real honor to dedicate this beautiful new facility in the names of Joe Skeen and Louis Whitlock," said Harvey. "These men have dedicated many years to supporting the Department of Energy and the WIPP. It is befitting, therefore, that this structure bear their names." Dr. Weart, dubbed by former Energy Secretary Hazel O’Leary as the "Sultan of Salt," has devoted 38 years to the scientific study of underground physics and nuclear waste technology. "Many refer to Dr. Weart as the grandfather of WIPP," Harvey said. "His steady hand has guided the science of WIPP since 1975, and that science is what we recognize here today." Weart directed WIPP site evaluation studies and research on interaction of radioactive waste with the geologic environment. The result is worldwide validation of the science that has transformed the WIPP into a viable repository for defense-generated transuranic nuclear waste. Skeen, a staunch supporter of the DOE’s Carlsbad Area Office and national defense and environmental restoration programs, spearheaded efforts to open the WIPP as the nation’s first repository for permanent disposal of transuranic radioactive wastes. He led Congress in passage of the WIPP Land Withdrawal Act of 1992. In 1996, he sponsored legislation to amend the Act, removing duplicative regulatory requirements and setting the WIPP on a timely schedule to begin disposal operations. Whitlock, a long-time Carlsbad resident, played a key role in bringing the WIPP to the salt beds of southeastern Eddy County. In the early 1970s, he was among a group of local leaders who contacted federal officials about the possibility of establishing a nuclear waste repository in the area. Since then, Whitlock has been an integral part of the community effort pushing the WIPP down the path to success. As a state senator, he worked closely with other legislators to build support for the project. "Joe Skeen and Louis Whitlock have been true leaders in their work on behalf of the DOE and the WIPP," said George Dials, manager of the Carlsbad Area Office. "I can’t think of two people more deserving of this honor. "Wendell Weart’s dedication to the WIPP project and his work in nuclear waste technology are legendary in the scientific world. He has won the respect and admiration of the entire scientific community." The WIPP is designed to permanently dispose of transuranic radioactive waste left from the research and production of nuclear weapons. Located in southeastern New Mexico, 26 miles east of Carlsbad, project facilities include disposal rooms excavated in an ancient, stable salt formation 2,150 feet underground. Transuranic waste consists of clothing, tools, rags and other disposable items contaminated with trace amounts of radioactive elements, mostly plutonium. The National Transuranic Waste Program administers a nationwide plan for storing, characterizing, packaging, transporting, and disposing of transuranic waste. Defense-generated transuranic waste is temporarily stored at 10 major generator/storage sites and several small-quantity sites nationwide. WIPP Transportation Exercise Termed A Success CARLSBAD, N.M., December 10, 1997 – Emergency personnel from Pojoaque and other surrounding communities successfully demonstrated that they are prepared to respond should an accident occur involving a shipment of radioactive transuranic waste headed for the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP). The training exercise, which involved a simulated shipment of radioactive waste from Los Alamos National Laboratory, was held December 6 at the Port of Entry near Pojoaque. Several dozen firefighters, police officers and medical personnel took part in the three-hour event. "This training exercise clearly illustrates that emergency responders are prepared to provide aid should an accident occur involving a WIPP shipment," said Carlsbad Area Office Transportation Manager Tim Sweeney. "The Pueblo of Pojoaque and the state of New Mexico ensured that local emergency responders are properly trained and prepared to react to any accident involving hazardous or radioactive materials." Emergency responders along transportation routes for WIPP shipments are offered training through the DOE’s States and Tribal Education Program (STEP). The program, which was initiated in 1988, offers courses in responding to potential incidents involving shipments of waste to the WIPP. After initially reviewing and certifying STEP courses in 1993, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration recertified the program in 1996. More than 11,000 emergency response personnel have been trained through STEP. Initial response to an actual incident would most likely come from local "first responders," such as state or local police departments, fire departments, and other emergency response personnel. State and local governments have emergency response plans that outline specific procedures for handling a hazardous materials transportation accident safely and effectively. Local first responders are trained in material identification, regulations, response procedures, and personal protection. In the event of an incident, local responders would usually contact state public health agencies, and, if necessary, the first response team would be followed by the appropriate DOE Radiological Assistance Team and eventually augmented by the DOE Carlsbad Area Office’s Incident/Accident Response Team, which would be on standby while transuranic waste shipments are in progress. The DOE Albuquerque Operations Office Emergency Operations Center is in charge of any incident involving a shipment of transuranic waste, regardless of where the incident occurs. Response would be automatic and not contingent on a state request for assistance. The DOE maintains regional offices that can receive calls for assistance 24 hours a day and are prepared to send trained personnel and equipment to incident sites. The Pojoaque exercise simulated an accident that involved a WIPP truck and a van-load of children. As part of the exercise, emergency responders were required to follow strict radioactive/hazardous materials training procedures while administering mock medical aid to the injured. "The exercise did exactly what it was designed to do – show local responders their strengths and weaknesses," said Sweeney. "From that aspect, it was a total success." A cornerstone of the DOE’s national clean-up strategy, the WIPP is designed to permanently dispose of radioactive transuranic waste generated by defense-related activities. Located in southeastern New Mexico, 26 miles east of Carlsbad, project facilities include disposal rooms excavated 2,150 (almost half a mile) underground in an ancient, stable salt formation. Decades-Old Quest to Open the WIPP Is Within the DOE’s Grasp CARLSBAD, N.M., December 3, 1997 – Employees at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) are within a stone’s throw of achieving a dream they’ve been chasing for almost two decades – opening the world’s first underground repository for the permanent disposal of radioactive transuranic waste. Originally sited in the early 1970s, the WIPP project has struggled through a variety of delays. As a result of the U.S. Environmental Protection’s (EPA) October 23 announcement, the barriers to progress appear to be coming down. "As required by Congress, EPA has reviewed DOE's application and, today, EPA is proposing to certify that the WIPP will meet health-based, environmental protection standards for disposal of defense-related radioactive waste," said Richard Wilson, EPA acting Assistant Administrator for Indoor Air and Radiation. "The proposed certification is based on DOE's application which has received extensive scientific analysis by the National Academy of Sciences, the International Atomic Energy Agency, and other independent scientists." A public comment period on the proposed EPA rule began on October 30 and will run for 120 days, ending on February 26, 1998. Public hearings are also scheduled for mid-January in Albuquerque, Carlsbad and Santa Fe, New Mexico. "I am very pleased that the EPA has issued a draft certification of compliance for the WIPP," said Energy Secretary Federico Peña. "I appreciate the thorough and timely analysis of the Department of Energy's WIPP application by Administrator Carol Browner, EPA staff, and the independent scientific reviewers. "This draft certification indicates EPA's preliminary findings that WIPP can effectively meet EPA's environmental standards and safely isolate radioactive transuranic waste. This important step is the result of a vigorous EPA review to ensure that the Department of Energy has answered a wide range of technical questions. We encourage the public to participate in EPA's upcoming hearings and comment on the draft certification." In addition to EPA’s preliminary WIPP certification, the DOE has completed a second Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement. The SEIS-II takes into account all of the circumstances involved with the disposal of transuranic waste at the WIPP that might result in environmental impacts, including closure of the facility once operations end. An environmental analysis is required for all proposed federal facilities, or federal facilities that have undergone major changes, under the National Environmental Policy Act. The final piece of the regulatory puzzle requires the DOE to secure a Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) permit to dispose of mixed transuranic waste. Mixed waste consists of radioactively contaminated debris that has hazardous constituents like cleaning solvents, lead and/or other contaminants defined under RCRA. The DOE’s RCRA permit application, which was submitted to the New Mexico Environment Department in 1995, remains in the review process. If the RCRA permit is not received from the NMED before final approval is received from the EPA, the DOE will initiate non-mixed transuranic waste shipments. Approximately 40 percent of all the waste that will come to the WIPP for permanent disposal falls into the "non-mixed" category. "Once final approval is received by the EPA, it would be environmentally irresponsible and a poor use of taxpayer dollars to delay non-mixed transuranic waste shipments to the WIPP," said George Dials, manager of the Carlsbad Area Office that oversees the WIPP program. "In fact, NMED Secretary Mark Weidler said the DOE does not immediately need the RCRA permit to begin waste operations. He said 55-gallon drums that do not contain hazardous materials – referred to as non-RCRA waste – could come to the WIPP without a state permit." Certifying the WIPP will allow the Department of Energy to take a major step toward solving one of the key elements in the nation's nuclear waste disposal problem. Upon receiving approval from the EPA, waste shipments from more than 20 temporary storage sites could begin as early as May or June of 1998. Statement from Secretary of Energy Federico Peña on Draft Certification of Compliance by the EPA for the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant October 23, 1997 - I am very pleased that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a draft certification of compliance for the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) in New Mexico. I appreciate the thorough and timely analysis of the Department of Energy's WIPP application by Administrator Carol Browner, EPA staff, and the independent scientific reviewers. This draft certification indicates EPA's preliminary findings that WIPP can effectively meet EPA's environmental standards and safely isolate radioactive transuranic waste. This important step is the result of a vigorous EPA review to ensure that the Department of Energy had answered a wide range of technical questions. We appreciate EPA's effort to meet its target of determining WIPP's compliance by spring of 1998. And we encourage the public to participate in EPA's upcoming hearings and comment on the draft certification. Certifying WIPP will allow the Department of Energy to take a major step toward solving one of the key elements in the nation's nuclear waste disposal problem. Westinghouse Legal Counsel Gloria J. Barnes Admitted to New Mexico Bar Association October 17, 1997 - Gloria J. Barnes, legal counsel for Westinghouse Electric Corporation's Waste Isolation Division, has been admitted to the New Mexico Bar Association. The Bar Association consists of attorneys licensed to practice in all of the courts of the State of New Mexico. "We are very fortunate to have an attorney of Gloria's caliber working for the division," said Joe Epstein, general manager of the Waste Isolation Division. Barnes provides expert legal advice and counsel, assisting in the development of compliance strategies at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP). She has served as senior counsel for the Waste Isolation Division since 1994. Westinghouse is the management and operating contractor for the DOE at the WIPP. Before arriving in Carlsbad, Barnes served as legal counsel for the Westinghouse Savannah River Company near Aiken, SC (1990-1994), and as a judicial law clerk for the Honorable Ernest A. Finney, Jr. of the South Carolina Supreme Court (1988-1990). A graduate of the University of South Carolina School of Law (1988), Barnes was admitted to the South Carolina Bar Association in November 1988. She completed her undergraduate studies at South Carolina State College, graduating Cum Laude in 1979, and earned a masters degree from The Citadel in 1982. WIPP Mine Rescue Silver Team Wins Southeast Missouri Regional Competition CARLSBAD, N.M., October 17, 1997 - The Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) Mine Rescue Silver Team captured first place in the Fifteenth Annual Southeast Missouri Regional Mine Rescue Competition held October 8-10 at the University of Missouri at Rolla. "This high level of performance exemplifies the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) and Westinghouse's emphasis on safety at the WIPP," said George Dials, manager of the DOE's Carlsbad Area Office, which administers the WIPP program. "We are very pleased with the level at which our mine rescue teams perform. It is consistent with our commitment to excellence in all environmental, safety and health areas at the WIPP." The WIPP Silver Team -- competing against mining industry teams from Wyoming, Nevada, New Mexico and Missouri -- outscored Asarco Sweetwater of Ellington, Mo., while FMC Mining Corporation of Green River, Wyo., was third. Individually, Richard West of the WIPP Silver Team finished third in his first benchman competition, while the Silver team's Mike Proctor and Robert Rhoades finished second in the first aid competition. The benchman competition tests the skills required to maintain and repair breathing equipment used by team members to access areas where air is not breathable. The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), the federal regulatory agency responsible for safety in the mining industry, organizes and judges national mine rescue competitions with assistance from state and local mine rescue associations. Team members, who are trained in mine gases, ventilation, first aid, mine recovery and fire fighting, are rated on how well they follow basic MSHA rules and regulations in carrying out a rescue under adverse, disaster-like conditions. In a real emergency, the lives of coworkers depend on the teams' skills. WIPP mine rescue team members voluntarily participate in exercises, conducting the majority of their training on their own time. All members of the teams hold full-time jobs with Westinghouse, the DOE's management and operating contractor at the WIPP. A cornerstone of the DOE's national clean-up strategy, the WIPP is designed to permanently dispose of radioactive transuranic waste generated by defense-related activities. Located in southeastern New Mexico, 26 miles east of Carlsbad, project facilities include disposal rooms excavated 2,150 feet (almost half a mile) underground in an ancient, stable salt formation. Westinghouse Employees Recognized For Cost Savings at the WIPP CARLSBAD, N.M., October 13, 1997 - For the second consecutive year, employees at Westinghouse Electric Corporation's Waste Isolation Division have been recognized by the national Employee Involvement Association for more than $1.5 million in cost savings/avoidance at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP). The 1996 Savings Eligible Employee Ratio Award, which was presented to Westinghouse in September, recognizes organizations or companies that rank at the top of their industry group based on total cost savings per 100 employees. Most savings are achieved through Westinghouse's Process Improvement Program that recognizes employees for suggestions that lead to higher efficiency within the division. Westinghouse serves as the management and operating contractor for the U.S. Department of Energy at the WIPP. "This award is a reflection of our employees' commitment to improving the way we do business," said Joe Epstein, general manager of the Waste Isolation Division. "I'm extremely proud of the division and its many accomplishments." Since its inception in 1992, the Waste Isolation Division's Process Improvement Program has accounted for almost $4.5 million in cost savings/avoidance, and dozens of better business and safety practices. The Employee Involvement Association, founded in 1942, has been supportive of employee involvement for more than 50 years. The association represents more than 600 organizations that include many Fortune 500 companies, businesses, and government agencies at local, state and federal levels. A cornerstone of the DOE's national clean-up strategy, the WIPP is designed to permanently dispose of radioactive transuranic waste generated by defense-related activities. Located 26 miles east of Carlsbad, project facilities include disposal rooms excavated in an ancient, stable salt formation 2,150 feet (almost half a mile) underground. Transuranic waste consists primarily of clothing, tools, rags, and other disposable items contaminated with trace amounts of radioactive elements, mostly plutonium. The DOE and Westinghouse are involved in a number of rigorous regulatory compliance activities in preparation for receiving radioactive waste in May 1998.
DOE Assistant Secretary Pledges to Clean Up Majority of Sites by 2006 CARLSBAD, N. M., October 2, 1997 - The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is committed to cleaning up the majority of its former nuclear weapons plants by the year 2006. An integral part of that plan includes getting the first underground repository for radioactive transuranic waste open by May 1998, according to Al Alm, the DOE's Assistant Secretary for Environmental Management. "Our goal is to open the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant," said Alm, speaking before 120 community leaders during today's opening session of the Energy Communities Alliance (ECA) Fall Conference. "Getting the WIPP open sends the signal that the DOE is getting on with the business at hand getting these sites cleaned up." Alm said the aggressive cleanup plan, termed Accelerating Cleanup: Focus on 2006, is the "key to the success of the DOE's Environmental Management Program." Accelerating Cleanup: Focus on 2006 is a report proposing strategies to clean up many contaminated DOE sites by 2006. The national planning process is designed to accelerate cleanup, reduce overall costs and maintain the DOE's commitment to meet federal and state regulations and compliance agreements. Alm also stressed the importance of privatization to the cleanup program. "By privatizing, DOE can tap the financial and technical resources of the private sector, save money, and speed up the cleanup program," said Alm. "Congress appropriated $200 million in privatization money for the Environmental Management Program, as well as, $37 million for two projects at the Fernald site in Ohio that were originally candidates for privatization." Alm was the keynote speaker for the ECA conference, which runs through Friday, October 3. The ECA is an organization of local communities that are home to major DOE facilities. The alliance was formed in 1992 to bring together local governments in energy communities to share information, establish policy positions, and advocate community interests in DOE activities. Richard Church, Jr., Mayor of Miamisburg, Ohio, introduced Alm and kicked off the event by saying the ECA looks forward to working with the DOE to ensure "this partnership works." "This is the first time in our short history that we've held the ECA conference in the city of an ECA site," said Church. "This is a great new tradition." That tradition will continue in 1998 when the annual conference is held in Westminster, Colorado, a suburb of Denver and near the DOE's Rocky Flats Environmental Technology Site. Miamisburg is the host community for the DOE's Mound Plant, which is one of the temporary storage sites for transuranic waste. Church, too, talked about the importance of getting the WIPP open. "As a community, we have a great stake in the WIPP project," said Church. "The quicker we can remove [transuranic] waste from the Mound Plant, the better. We definitely support the timely opening of the WIPP." Carlsbad is the host community for the WIPP. Administered by the DOE's Carlsbad Area Office, the WIPP is designed to permanently dispose of transuranic waste generated by defense-related activities. Located 26 miles east of Carlsbad, project facilities include disposal rooms excavated in an ancient, stable salt formation 2,150 feet (almost half a mile) underground. Transuranic waste consists primarily of clothing, tools, rags, and other disposable items contaminated with trace amounts of radioactive elements, mostly plutonium. More than 120 community leaders representing 24 cities and 13 states registered for the conference, which got underway October 1 at Carlsbad's Pecos River Village Conference Center. "I certainly see this organization B the Energy Communities Alliance B as playing a critical role in bringing many affected local governments together to work through a variety of environmental concerns," said Alm. "I look forward to working with the ECA at the many DOE sites nationwide." U.S. Representatives Joe Skeen of New Mexico and Michael Crapo of Idaho are also scheduled to address the gathering. Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in discussions on such subjects as economic development, working with DOE contractors, adjusting to changes in facility missions, and the roles regulatory agencies play in helping DOE communities. Westinghouse Receives Recognition As "Mine Operator of the Year" at the WIPP CARLSBAD, N.M., October 3, 1997 - For the eleventh consecutive year, Westinghouse Electric Corporation's Waste Isolation Division (WID) has received recognition for "excellence in underground operations" at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP). Westinghouse was presented the "Mine Operator of the Year" award by Gilbert Miera, the New Mexico State Inspector of Mines, and Richard Heinen, president of New Mexico Mining Association, on September 22 during the association's annual convention in Taos. The "Mine Operator of the Year" award recognizes Westinghouse's close attention to safety in a mining environment. Westinghouse serves as the management and operating contractor for the DOE at the WIPP. "The WIPP underground is in excellent condition," said Miera. "It should be used as a showcase mine for the rest of the state and nation. Westinghouse, its employees, and management team should be commended for maintaining a safe environment." Westinghouse has also performed well in safety inspections. Since 1993, the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) has reported no significant negative findings at the WIPP. MSHA enforces federal safety and health regulations for the mining industry. Because of the nature of its underground facilities, the WIPP is considered a "mining operation" and is required by federal and state law to maintain the same safety standards as other mines. "Safety is the number one priority in everything we do," said WID General Manager Joe Epstein. "We are proud of our safety record and will continue to maintain safety programs as our top priority." A cornerstone of the DOE's national clean-up strategy, the WIPP is designed to permanently dispose of transuranic radioactive waste generated by defense-related activities. Located in southeastern New Mexico, 26 miles east of Carlsbad, project facilities include disposal rooms excavated in an ancient, stable salt formation 2,150 feet (almost half a mile) underground. Transuranic waste consists primarily of clothing, tools, rags, and other disposable items contaminated with trace amounts of radioactive elements, mostly plutonium. The DOE and Westinghouse are involved in a number of rigorous regulatory compliance activities in preparation for receiving radioactive waste in May 1998. Department Announces Preferred Alternative in Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for WIPP WASHINGTON, D. C., October 1, 1997 -- The New Mexico Waste Isolation Pilot Plant would accept defense-generated radioactive transuranic waste up to current legal limits for permanent disposal, under the recommendation or "preferred alternative" in the Energy Department's final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS-II) released today. In November, Secretary of Energy Federico Peña will determine, in a Record of Decision, whether to select this "preferred alternative." The department is also awaiting regulatory approval of WIPP by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the New Mexico Environment Department. "In finalizing this document, the department has responded to nearly 4,000 public comments and provided extensive environmental analysis. We are confident that the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant can be operated safely. The facility is an important solution to a national problem -- cleaning up decades of Cold War-generated radioactive waste at sites nationwide," said Al Alm, Assistant Secretary for Environmental Management. This final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement also recommends that the department continue to explore the feasibility of transporting waste by rail. The document updates information contained in the first WIPP Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement, completed in 1990, and the original 1980 WIPP Environmental Impact Statement. In preparing the second supplemental environmental impact statement, the Energy Department asked experts to analyze the environmental impacts associated with the treatment, storage, transportation and disposal of transuranic waste. After completing the analysis in November 1996, the department held hearings nationwide in January to give the public a chance to comment on the draft document. A 90-day public comment period was also held. The final statement reflects the department's consideration of more than 4,000 stakeholder comments on the draft. Some of the changes that have occurred since the draft of SEIS-II was issued for public comment include:
The final SEIS-II includes a volume with nearly 4,000 public comments and the department's responses. The SEIS-II takes into account all of the aspects involved with the disposal of transuranic waste at the WIPP that might result in environmental impacts, including closure of the facility once operations end. An environmental impact statement is required for all major federal actions that may significantly affect human health or the environment, under the National Environmental Policy Act. The final WIPP Disposal Phase Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS-II) is available to the public through the WIPP Information Center at 1-800-336-9477 and on the web site at http://www.wipp.ws The Waste Isolation Pilot Plant is designed to permanently dispose of transuranic waste generated by defense-related activities. Transuranic waste consists of clothing, tools, rags and other disposable items contaminated with radioactive elements, mostly plutonium. Located in southeastern New Mexico, 26 miles east of Carlsbad, facilities include disposal rooms excavated nearly one-half-mile underground, in an ancient, stable salt formation. The department's Carlsbad Area Office is responsible for the WIPP and National Transuranic Waste programs. LOS ALAMOS NATIONAL LABORATORY DEEMED READY TO IMPLEMENT WIPP PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS WIPP SUPPORTS CHILDHOOD EDUCATION BY PUTTING COMPUTERS IN THE CLASSROOM WIPP DRIVER COMPETES IN NATIONAL TRUCK DRIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS CARLSBAD, N.M., September 5, 1997 - Randy Anderson of CAST Transportation, the contract carrier for truck shipments of transuranic waste to the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP), placed sixteenth in a field of 48 contestants in the flatbed division of the National Truck Driving Championships, held August 20-23 in Minneapolis, Minn. Anderson earned the right to represent CAST, the WIPP and the state of New Mexico in the national competition by winning the flatbed division of the New Mexico Truck Driving Championship May 2-3, in Albuquerque, N.M. In the competition, drivers are judged by their performance on a written exam, a personal interview, a pre-trip inspection to find seven pre-set defects on their rigs, and a road course with six obstacles. The road course, that includes backing up to a dock, parallel parking, tight right turns, entering a diminishing (narrowing) alleyway, and a stop line, must be completed within 10 minutes with no errors. Anderson, a 27-year veteran with approximately two million miles of big-rig experience, is one of six drivers with CAST who will be responsible for the safe transport of waste to the WIPP. The Colorado-based trucking company is under contract to the Westinghouse Electric Corporation Waste Isolation Division to transport transuranic waste to the WIPP, which is scheduled to begin operating in May 1998. Westinghouse is the management and operating contractor for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) at the WIPP. "Randy's fine showing at the national level places him among the best flatbed drivers in the country," said George Dials, manager of the DOE's Carlsbad Area Office. "The WIPP transportation system is safe, and a key component of that safety is the fact that our drivers are among the most highly trained and skilled truck drivers in the nation." WIPP drivers are required to have at least 100,000 miles of accident-free, citation-free driving and receive additional driver training and WIPP-specific emergency response training. The cornerstone of the DOE's national clean-up strategy, the WIPP is designed to permanently dispose of transuranic radioactive waste generated by defense-related activities. Located in southeastern New Mexico, 26 miles east of Carlsbad, project facilities include disposal rooms excavated in an ancient, stable salt formation 2,150 feet (almost half a mile) underground. Transuranic waste consists primarily of clothing, tools, rags, and other disposable items contaminated with trace amounts of radioactive elements, mostly plutonium. WIPP-DEVELOPED TECHNOLOGY GENERATES MORE THAN $21 MILLION IN SALES AND SAVINGS CARLSBAD, N.M., August 29, 1997 - More than $21 million in commercial sales and savings have been generated by businesses and organizations using technology developed at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP). The technology, which consists mainly of training materials, technical manuals, and managerial tools, is available, at no charge, to businesses and organizations. "This is tremendous," said George Dials, manager of the DOE's Carlsbad Area Office. "Generating sales and savings of this magnitude in only 30 months is astounding. The technology developed at the WIPP benefits everyone. The best part of the transfer process is that this technology can be obtained for no charge." Nine respondents participating in a recent survey conducted by the Carlsbad Area Office said WIPP-developed technology helped them generate huge profits, crediting the government program for commercial sales in excess of $155,000 each. John Donnelly of HR+ Management Services in Acton, Mass., has saved more than $50,000 using the WIPP-developed technology. "My practice focuses primarily on healthcare providers and smaller, start-up ventures," said Donnelly. "I have begun to utilize the [WIPP] programs with clients and would expect that in the future they will be of even greater revenue-producing value." Companies, universities, government agencies and nonprofit organizations can obtain, free of charge, taxpayer-funded technology. The Carlsbad Area Office Technology Transfer Program is designed to promote economic development and competitiveness in the private sector, improve the quality of organizational operations, enhance education and training, and ensure maximum return on taxpayer investment. The Carlsbad Area Office administers the WIPP program. Survey results indicate that for every taxpayer dollar spent on technology transfer, the public enjoys a $172 economic benefit. More than 3,400 businesses and organizations have received technology transfers from the Carlsbad Area Office over the past 30 months. Additional survey results show that transferred technology is responsible for the creation/retention of almost 500 jobs. More than 500 organizations participated in the study. Anyone wanting information on Carlsbad Area Office technology transfer opportunities can call Bill Keeley at (505) 234-7594, or reach him through e-mail at Bill.Keeley@wipp.ws. Information can also be obtained by accessing the Carlsbad Area Office home page at http://www.wipp.ws. The Carlsbad Area Office Technology Transfer Program is administered by Westinghouse Electric Corporation's Waste Isolation Division, the management and operating contractor for the DOE at the WIPP. A cornerstone of the DOE's national clean-up strategy, the WIPP is designed to permanently dispose of transuranic waste generated by defense-related activities. Located 26 miles east of Carlsbad, project facilities include disposal rooms excavated in an ancient, stable salt formation 2,150 feet (almost half a mile) underground. Transuranic waste consists primarily of clothing, tools, rags, and other disposable items contaminated with trace amounts of radioactive elements, mostly plutonium. WIPP, WESTINGHOUSE ACHIEVE INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR ENVIRONMENTAL EXCELLENCE CARLSBAD, N.M., August 21, 1997 -- The Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) became the second U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) facility -- and first nuclear facility in the United States -- to achieve environmental excellence under the International Organization for Standardization's ISO 14001 criterion. This also makes the site's management and operating contractor, Westinghouse Electric Corporation's Waste Isolation Division, the twenty-second private sector recipient of this prestigious recognition. "Environment, safety and health is a top priority at the Department of Energy," said Energy Secretary Federico Pea. "This international recognition confirms that WIPP's environmental management is world class. I congratulate both our federal and contractor employees for their outstanding work." On August 5, Westinghouse and the WIPP received registration under ISO 14001, a voluntary standard for developing and implementing an Environmental Management System. The standard was developed by the International Organization for Standardization, which consists of 112 member countries, including the United States. ISO 14001 serves as a guide for environmental management programs and provides an internationally recognized framework to measure, evaluate, and audit these programs. The WIPP's environmental management system includes elements of policy, planning, implementation, corrective actions, and management review. During the week of July 28, auditors with international environmental expertise arrived in Carlsbad to perform a preliminary investigation of the WIPP's Environmental Management System and determine if they could proceed with a full registration audit. After spending only two days on site, the evaluators determined that they could accelerate the visit into a formal registration audit. At the end of their four-day inspection of the facility, the auditors enthusiastically endorsed the WIPP's ISO 14001 registration. Lead auditor Dr. Richard Ellis of Advanced Waste Management Systems, Inc. (Hixon, Tenn.), said that the DOE is leading the pack in "federal agencies committed to ISO 14001 implementation." "We have worked in over 50 countries, from the top of the Andes to the bottom of some Chinese gold mines," said Ellis. "This [the WIPP] certainly ranks among the most unique." The DOE's Kansas City Plant in Kansas City, Mo., was the first departmental site to achieve the standard in June 1997. The non-nuclear plant is managed by Allied Signal Corporation. A cornerstone of the DOE's national clean-up strategy, the WIPP is designed to permanently dispose of transuranic waste generated by defense-related activities. Located 26 miles east of Carlsbad, project facilities include disposal rooms excavated in an ancient, stable salt formation 2,150 feet (almost half a mile) underground. Transuranic waste consists primarily of clothing, tools, rags, and other disposable items contaminated with trace amounts of radioactive elements, mostly plutonium. INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION for STANDARDIZATION ISO 14001 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS What is ISO 14001? ISO 14001 is a voluntary standard for developing and implementing an Environmental Management System (EMS). The standard was developed by the International Organization for Standardization, consisting of 112 member countries, including the United States. The standard serves as a guide for environmental management programs and provides an internationally recognized framework to measure, evaluate, and audit these programs. The management system includes elements of policy, planning, implementation, corrective actions, and management review. Why is ISO 14001 registration important to the WIPP? Registration is yet another independent validation of excellence at the WIPP. It puts the WIPP in an elite group of facilities recognized as having world-class environmental programs. ISO registration clearly demonstrates a commitment to move beyond strict compliance with environmental laws and regulations and establish programs that exceed legal requirements and emphasize continual improvement. It creates a potential for reducing compliance audits. The WIPP's world-class EMS ensures greater employee involvement in business operations and helps reduce liability and risk through operations excellence. How many DOE facilities are ISO 14001 registered? The Kansas City Plant in Kansas City, Mo., was the Department's first site to achieve the standard (June 1997). Allied Signal Corporation manages the non-nuclear plant under a contract with DOE. The WIPP, which is managed by Westinghouse Electric Corporation's Waste Isolation Division (WID), became the second DOE site and the first nuclear facility to receive registration on August 5, 1997. Overall, 22 companies nationally have been awarded registration. Additionally, the WIPP is the first New Mexico facility to receive ISO 14001 registration. How long does it take to get registered to ISO 14001? The process normally takes from 12 to 18 months. Duration is linked to an organization's existing EMS, size, and internal resources. What did the ISO audit team find unique about the WIPP and the WID? The ISO audit team feedback indicates that the WID maintains a world-class EMS at the WIPP. Dr. Richard Ellis, the lead auditor, describes the system as "as good as we've ever seen, both nationally and internationally." The final audit report described the WID's EMS as "extraordinarily strong," according to previous audit experience." WESTINGHOUSE HONORS DONOVAN FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE CARLSBAD, N.M., August 12, 1997 - The Waste Isolation Division's Kevin S. Donovan is the winner of the 1997 Westinghouse Community Service Award. Donovan was selected for the honor, in part, because of his work with Carlsbad's "Habitat For Humanity" program. Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit, Christian housing ministry. Habitat works in partnership with people in need throughout the world building simple, decent shelter that is sold to them at no profit, through no-interest loans. Founded in 1976 by Millard and Linda Fuller, Habitat is approaching the completion of its 60,000th house worldwide. Donovan manages the division's Environment, Safety and Health Department at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP). He has also devoted personal time to Girls Scouts of America, New Mexico First, and Character Counts. Nationally, only 20 Westinghouse Electric Corporation employees receive the community service award. Recipients are personnel who, through outstanding service on their own time, make communities better places to live and work. Five other Waste Isolation Division employees were nominated for community service awards. The nominees and their community involvement activities include Chris West, Renaissance Corporation and Carlsbad MainStreet Project; Mary Ann Walker, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD).; Chuck Link, youth self defense classes and several community art projects; Mario Carrasco, Loving schools, board president; and Sherry Reese, United Way co-chairperson, Carlsbad Museum and Loving schools. The Waste Isolation Divison serves as the management and operating contractor for the DOE at the WIPP. 850 TAKE PART IN WIPP COMMUNITY APPRECIATION DAY CARLSBAD, N.M., July 21, 1997 - Approximately 850 people from New Mexico and West Texas took part in "Community Appreciation Day" July 19 at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP). During the day-long event, visitors toured surface facilities, visited information stations, and participated in several hands-on activities. A majority of the visitors took advantage of the opportunity to travel almost one-half mile underground to see where the DOE will permanently dispose of radioactive transuranic waste. "Weekend events such as these are scheduled periodically to thank area communities for their support of and interest in the WIPP," said George Dials, manager of the DOE's Carlsbad Area Office. "These special events also offer the public a chance to thank WIPP employees for their dedication to the WIPP's important mission. The number of people that turned out is indicative of the public interest in and support for the project, and it makes us all feel good to be able to show it off in this manner." "Our employees are especially proud of this facility," said Joe Epstein, general manager of the Westinghouse Waste Isolation Division which operates the WIPP under contract to the DOE. "It's great to be able to show the public the results of the hard work and dedication our employees put into this project." Anyone interested in visiting the WIPP can get more information by calling, toll free, 1-800-336-9477. The cornerstone of the DOE's national clean-up strategy, the WIPP is designed to permanently dispose of transuranic radioactive waste generated by defense-related activities. Located 26 miles east of Carlsbad, project facilities include disposal rooms excavated in an ancient, stable salt formation 2,150 feet (almost half a mile) underground. Transuranic waste consists primarily of clothing, tools, rags, and other disposable items contaminated with trace amounts of radioactive elements, mostly plutonium. WIPP HOME PAGE RECEIVES FAVELIFT; NATIONAL TRANSURANIC INFORMATION AVAILABLE ON INTERNET CARLSBAD, N.M., July 9, 1997 - The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Carlsbad Area Office has given the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) Internet home page a facelift, adding new information about the National Transuranic Waste Program. Located at http://www.wipp.ws, the redesigned home page highlights the Carlsbad Area Office, describing the National Transuranic Waste and WIPP programs. Additionally, new, easier-to-use, clickable buttons have been added to improve access to all information. Using a modem and personal computer, the public can access several National Transuranic Waste Program/WIPP sections. By clicking on the "National Transuranic Sites" button, for example, users will learn where radioactive transuranic waste is currently stored. The "What's New" button gives the public up-to-date information on a variety of WIPP and National Transuranic Waste Program subjects. A photographic tour of the WIPP waste disposal process, fact sheets on several transuranic waste-related issues, and numerous graphical illustrations are also available to the public. The National Transuranic Waste Program administers nationwide generator/storage site programs for packaging, storing, and disposing of transuranic waste. The cornerstone of the DOE's national clean-up strategy, the WIPP is designed to permanently dispose of transuranic radioactive waste generated by defense-related activities. Located in southeastern New Mexico, 26 miles east of Carlsbad, project facilities include disposal rooms excavated in an ancient, stable salt formation 2,150 feet (almost half a mile) underground. Transuranic waste consists primarily of clothing, tools, rags, and other disposable items contaminated with trace amounts of radioactive elements, mostly plutonium. WIPP EMPLOYEE RECOGNIZED AS ENERGY MANAGER OF THE YEAR CARLSBAD, N.M., July 8, 1997 - An employee at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) has been recognized by the Federal Energy Management Program as the "You Have the Power" Energy Champion and the DOE Albuquerque Operations Office Energy Manager of the Year. James Hedin received the honor, in part, because of energy-saving initiatives that could reduce yearly utility costs at the WIPP by more than $220,000. Hedin, for example, is instituting a lighting retrofit program that will amount to a 30 percent savings in energy costs. He has also recommended energy-saving changes to the plant's heating and cooling system. Hedin is employed by Westinghouse Electric Corporation's Waste Isolation Division, the management and operating contractor for the DOE at the WIPP. The Federal Energy Management Program's "You Have the Power" campaign promotes energy efficiency practices and products, recognizing ordinary people throughout the federal government who are doing extraordinary things to save energy and money. Hedin is one of six individuals within the DOE complex to receive this recognition. "James should be congratulated for his innovation and determination in improving energy performance through increased energy efficiency," said George Dials, manager of the Carlsbad Area Office, which oversees the WIPP program. "This is an outstanding accomplishment that illustrates the type of dedicated and conscientious employee we have working at the WIPP." The Carlsbad Area Office receives administrative support from the Albuquerque Operations Office. "While I am honored to receive this award, I would like to attribute it to the many people at the WIPP who contribute to the success of the program," Hedin said. "This level of recognition is the result of true teamwork." The cornerstone of the DOE's national clean-up strategy, the WIPP is designed to permanently dispose of transuranic radioactive waste generated by defense-related activities. Located in southeastern New Mexico, 26 miles east of Carlsbad, project facilities include disposal rooms excavated in an ancient, stable salt formation 2,150 feet (almost half a mile) underground. Transuranic waste consists primarily of clothing, tools, rags, and other disposable items contaminated with trace amounts of radioactive elements, mostly plutonium. AGREEMENT REACHED ON WIPP LAND MANAGEMENT CARLSBAD, N.M., July 7, 1997 - The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Carlsbad Area Office and the state of New Mexico executed an agreement which addresses how certain land management issues will be handled at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) site near Carlsbad, N.M. The agreement, entitled "Management of the WIPP Withdrawal Area," establishes formal relationships and specifies various procedures to be followed by the DOE and four New Mexico state government agencies with respect to WIPP land management. Issues covered under the agreement include those associated with cultural resources, range management, wildlife, fire management, mining and oil/gas activities, rights-of-way, and environmental restoration and reclamation. In addition to the DOE, parties to the agreement are the New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department; New Mexico Department of Game and Fish; New Mexico Office of Cultural Affairs; and the New Mexico State Land Office. "This important agreement further demonstrates the cooperative spirit that exists between the DOE and the state," said George Dials, manager of the DOE's Carlsbad Area Office. "It helps ensure that the area surrounding the WIPP is well managed and that public health and the environment are foremost considerations." The agreement complements and helps implement the DOE's WIPP Land Management Plan. This plan, developed in consultation with the U.S. Interior Department and state of New Mexico, provides a comprehensive framework for the management and coordination of land uses within and adjacent to the WIPP withdrawal area. The WIPP withdrawal area, established by Congress in 1992 (Public Law 102-579), consists of 16 sections of federal land totaling 10,240 acres in Eddy County, N.M. "We executed this agreement to further clarify the roles and responsibilities of various government agencies with jurisdiction over the complex land management issues at the WIPP site," said Jennifer A. Salisbury, cabinet secretary of the New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department and chair of the state's Radioactive Waste Consultation Task Force. The task force, created by the New Mexico State Legislature in 1979 to monitor WIPP and other federal nuclear waste projects, consists of six cabinet-level agencies in New Mexico State Government. "This agreement is yet another example of the 'defense-in-depth' strategy for the WIPP Project," said Salisbury. "It will significantly enhance coordination and communications among the key government agencies involved in land management at WIPP and thereby contribute to its continuing safe operation. When it comes to WIPP, protection of public health and the environment is our top priority." The cornerstone of the DOE's national clean-up strategy, the WIPP is designed to permanently dispose of transuranic radioactive waste left from the research and production of nuclear weapons. Located in southeastern New Mexico, 26 miles east of Carlsbad, project facilities include disposal rooms excavated in an ancient, stable salt formation 2,150 feet (almost half a mile) underground. Transuranic waste consists primarily of clothing, tools, rags, and other disposable items contaminated with trace amounts of radioactive elements, mostly plutonium. WIPP COMMUNITY APPRECIATION DAY SET FOR JULY 19 CARLSBAD, N.M., July 2,1997 - The public is invited to take part in "Community Appreciation Day" July 19 at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP). During the day-long event, visitors will tour surface facilities, visit information stations, and participate in several hands-on activities. Tour guides will then take guests almost one-half mile underground to see where the DOE will permanently dispose of radioactive transuranic waste. Special arrangements have been made for children 9th grade and older to tour the underground. Surface tours will begin at 7:30 a.m. Underground tours are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis throughout the day. Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times. To preregister for tours, cut out the "WIPP Community Appreciation Day" advertisement appearing in the July 3 Lovington Daily Leader, Carlsbad Current-Argus, Hobbs Daily News-Sun, and the Artesia Daily Press. Forms should be filled out and returned to the address provided in the ad by July 11. Specific tour times and a site map will be sent to all registrants. Questions regarding "WIPP Community Appreciation Day" can be answered by calling, toll free, 1-800-336-9477. The cornerstone of the DOE's national clean-up strategy, the WIPP is designed to permanently dispose of transuranic radioactive waste generated by defense-related activities. Located 26 miles east of Carlsbad, project facilities include disposal rooms excavated in an ancient, stable salt formation 2,150 feet (almost half a mile) underground. Transuranic waste consists primarily of clothing, tools, rags, and other disposable items contaminated with trace amounts of radioactive elements, mostly plutonium. WESTINGHOUSE GRANTED ACCREDITATION FOR WIPP RADIOLOGICAL PROGRAM CARLSBAD, N.M., June 25,1997 - Westinghouse Electric Corporation's Waste Isolation Division, the primary contractor for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP), has been granted accreditation for the WIPP dosimetry program. Dosimetry accreditation is required of all DOE facilities that use dosimeters. A dosimeter is a device for measuring worker doses of radiation. To gain accreditation, the Waste Isolation Division successfully completed a series of performance-based tests and passed a site inspection by the DOE Laboratory Accreditation Program assessors without any deficiencies. Successful completion of the DOE Laboratory Accreditation Program helps ensure the quality of dosimetry results and staff competency. Reaccreditation is required of all DOE dosimetry facilities every two years. The WIPP dosimetry program received its initial accreditation in 1990 and has achieved reaccreditation three times since inception. The cornerstone of the DOE's national clean-up strategy, the WIPP is designed to permanently dispose of transuranic radioactive waste left from the research and production of nuclear weapons. Located in southeastern New Mexico, 26 miles east of Carlsbad, project facilities include disposal rooms excavated 2,150 feet (almost half a mile) underground. Transuranic waste consists of clothing, tools, rags, and other such items contaminated with trace amounts of radioactive elements, mostly plutonium. WIPP PERSONNEL WIN STATE AWARD FOR ENGINEERING EXCELLENCE CARLSBAD, N.M., June 24,1997 - Engineers at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) have been selected as winners in the "Research and Development" category of the New Mexico Society of Professional Engineers achievement awards competition. The competition, held recently in Albuquerque, was part of the society's fiftieth anniversary celebration, recognizing engineering achievements that have had a substantial impact on the environment and life in New Mexico. "I want to be the first to congratulate the many WIPP engineers who have helped design and construct |