CARLSBAD, N.M. (AP) – Officials of the federal government’s underground nuclear waste depot in southern New Mexico say operations are advancing despite the recent increase in COVID-19 cases among workers.
The waste isolation pilot plant saw instances more than doubled last week, Carlsbad Current-Argus reported.
The plant announced 4 new instances last Monday among workers at nuclear Waste Partnership, the contractor who oversees the facility’s day-to-day operations. In total, the plant reported at least 14 positive cases between workers and subcontractors.
The plant is in the time phase of resuming operations after decelerating waste progression this spring when the pandemic began, spokesman Bobby St said.John.
“We continue to monitor global operations on the site strongly and allocate mandatory resources,” he said. “The WIPP remains in phase 2 for the resumption of painting activities. Shipments are adjusted based on equipment availability and ongoing paint priorities on site.”
St. John told The Associated Press that the first positive case reported at the isolation pilot plant in April and that since then, about 1% of the workforce has tested positive in COVID-19. He said all cases had been reported to the State Department of Health and that plant managers were offering daily updates to the U.S. Department of Energy. About the state of the workforce.
“Protecting our workers’ bodies is our most sensible priority as we continue to closely monitor this pandemic,” he said Wednesday.
The waste isolation pilot plant is the only position in the country with tons of Cold War-era waste generated during years of studies on the manufacture of nuclear bombs and weapons. This includes gloves, clothing, equipment, and other waste infected with plutonium and other radioactive elements.
The debris is placed in vaults excavated in an ancient saline formation approximately one mile (0.8 km) below the surface.
In January, two dozen expeditions were accepted through the establishment. Records show that it followed 10 shipments in February, six in March and seven in April. Mayo saw an increase of up to 20 shipments when the state of New Mexico began to ease some physical fitness public order restrictions that had been followed to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
Deliveries remained solid in June and July, to record levels.
St. John stated that the facility had followed all protocols from the federal government and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This includes cleaning paint areas, complying with quarantine protocols, and having others paint from home whenever possible.
The facility also marked a vital milestone in July, when it won the first shipments of waste from Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque since 2012. Shipments included waste to be treated remotely due to higher levels of radiation.
Shipments packed in armored boxes lined with pellets weighing approximately 1,700 pounds empty.