1. The Path Forward for WIPP: A State and Local Perspective
David Martin, Cabinet Secretary
NM Energy, Minerals, and Natural Resources Department (EMNRD)
Low-Level Radioactive Waste Forum
Fall 2014 Meeting
Denver, Colorado
October 30, 2014

2. Outline Summary of Events Leading to Suspension of Operations
DOE’s Response: A Regulator’s Perspective (NMED)
Negatives
Positives
A Path Forward for Re-opening WIPP
Identification and Resolution of the Problems
Facility Operation
DOE Management
Independent Peer Review
Stronger Oversight
State Plans and Requests

3. Fire and Radiological Release
Feb 5, 2014: Vehicle Fire
Ineffective maintenance, fire protection and emergency management/preparedness
Feb 14, 2014: Radiological release
Ventilation/filtration system did not operate correctly
Amount of radiation released is below any threshold that would indicate a public health hazard
21 employees at WIPP tested positive for radiological contamination, but “dose does not represent a clinically significant exposure”

4. DOE’s Response from the Perspective of a Regulator
Negatives
WIPP: Initial Communication with Regulator & Public Damaged DOE’s Credibility at the Start
Pace of the Investigation is Moving Too Slowly
LANL: Poor Communication with Regulator is Damaging DOE’s Credibility & Increasing Potential Liability
DOE HQ: Difficulty Keeping Everyone Focused

5. DOE’s Response (cont.) Positives
Multi-Laboratory Technical Assessment Team & LANL Teams (Energetics Team, Remediation Planning Team, Chemical Reactions Team)
WIPP: Town Hall Meetings & Communication with Regulators
WIPP: Recovery Plan Looks Promising

6. New Mexico’s Initial Views on How to Move Forward at WIPP
Root Cause of Release Must be Identified & Verified by Independent Team
Interim Panel Closure: Panel 6 ASAP & Panel 7, Room 7 Pending Accident Investigation Board Findings
Eliminate the Silo Effect at WIPP/Generator Sites
DOE-HQ Cannot Manage Recovery Operations from Washington, D.C.
DOE-EM Must be Given Control of Legacy Waste Cleanup at LANL and Throughout the Complex

7. DOE Actions to Date Decontamination at WIPP more than 50% completed
Ongoing assessments by Accident Investigation Board and Technical Assessment Team
Office of Inspector General Management Alert*
WIPP Recovery Plan**
Cleanup of transuranic waste at LANL will be transitioned from NNSA to DOE-EM
Improved communication and transparency at Carlsbad Town Hall Meetings
*Remediation of Selected Transuranic Waste Drums at Los Alamos National Laboratory-
Potential Impact on the Shutdown of the Department’s Waste Isolation Plant (Sept. 2014)
**Waste Isolation Pilot Plant--Road to Recovery (Sept. 30, 2014)

8. Independent Peer Review
All scientists currently studying the radiological event are DOE employees or contractors of DOE
Independent team of experts is needed
Review DOE’s conclusions regarding the root cause of the radiological release
Define procedures to ensure this problem will never happen again

9. Stronger Oversight Among Oversight Agencies
Multiple Regulatory Agencies (22) Involved, including
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
N.M. Environment Department (NMED)
N.M. Energy, Minerals, and Natural Resources Department
Carlsbad Environmental Monitoring and Research Center (CEMRC)
Mine Safety and Health Administration
N.M. and U.S. Department of Transportation
Alliance of key agencies and local government for coordination and accountability to the public

10. State Plans and Requests
State will request funding for an independent peer review team led by New Mexico Tech
State will convene a meeting of the key WIPP oversight agencies and local government officials
Stronger coordination among agencies
Community Assurance Program for improved communication
Request management changes at DOE
A full-time DOE employee at the CBFO with decision-making authority to run the WIPP recovery
Ensure FY16 funding
Better collaboration with generator sites

11. Questions?