The Nuclear Regulatory Commission this month gave the formal go-ahead for stranded transuranic waste from the Los Alamos Laboratory to remain in commercial storage for another two years.
NRC cleared Waste Control Specialists to hold on to the waste until Dec. 31, 2026, according to a letter dated Nov. 22 and posted online by the commission on Nov. 26. It was the expected outcome and the date by which the Department of Energy said last year it planned to move the 74 containers, which since 2014 have been stranded at the facility in Andrews County, Texas.
The containers are packed similarly to one that blew open underground at DOE’s Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) in 2014, forcing the agency to close its only deep-underground disposal facility for transuranic waste for about three years.
Diverted from WIPP after the accident, the waste could return there. First, DOE plans to clean up the containers in a new facility near Waste Control Specialists’ federal facility.
NEW: Via public records request, I’ve been able to confirm reporting today that a warrant has been issued for DOE deputy asst. secretary of spent fuel and waste disposition Sam Brinton for another luggage theft, this time at Las Vegas’s Harry Reid airport. (cc: @EMPublications)
DOE spent fuel lead Brinton accused of second luggage theft.
by @BenjaminSWeiss, confirming today's reports with warrant from Las Vegas Metro PD.
Waste has been Emplaced! 🚮
We have finally begun emplacing defense-related transuranic (TRU) waste in Panel 8 of #WIPP.
Read more about the waste emplacement here: https://wipp.energy.gov/wipp_news_20221123-2.asp
Editorial: Sam Brinton’s credibility is now an issue 🔓