Following is a timeline of significant events at EM's Waste Isolation Pilot Plant since the facility's grand opening in 1999:
Office of Environmental Management
April 23, 2019
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CARLSBAD, N.M. – Following is a timeline of significant events at EM's Waste Isolation Pilot Plant since the facility's grand opening in 1999:
- 1999
The first shipment arrives at EM’s Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) on March 26. Hundreds of employees, local officials, and media are present. The shipment originated at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL).
- 2002
First shipment of waste characterized (container contents verified) by the National Transuranic (TRU) Program’s mobile Central Characterization Project arrives at WIPP from the Savannah River Site.
- 2003
WIPP’s Panel 1 filled.
- 2004
WIPP’s Silver Mine Rescue Team is named overall champion at the National Mine Rescue Competition, retaining the title it won in 2002.
- 2005
Rocky Flats site sends its final TRU waste shipment to WIPP, allowing Rocky Flats to close a year ahead of schedule.
- 2006
New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) issues WIPP permit to dispose remote-handled TRU waste (RH-TRU).
- 2007
First shipment of RH-TRU waste arrives at WIPP. The shipment originated at DOE’s Idaho National Laboratory (INL).
For the 21st time in 22 years, WIPP is awarded the New Mexico Mining Association’s Mine Operator of the Year award for safety.
- 2009
WIPP receives transportation safety award from the United States Transport Council.
WIPP celebrates 10 years of safe operations.
- 2010
WIPP surpasses 10 million safe loaded miles of waste shipments to the facility.
- 2011
WIPP receives 10,000th waste shipment.
- 2012
New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez visits WIPP to see final shipments arrive from Sandia National Laboratories.
NMED awards WIPP a Green Zia award for environmental conservation.
- 2014
WIPP temporarily suspends underground emplacement operations following a fire on a salt haul truck. Days later, a radiological release occurs underground in Panel 7, Room 7, which is later determined to have resulted from a LANL drum that contained incompatible materials.
WIPP’s Red Mine Rescue Team is named overall champion at the National Mine Rescue Competition championship.
- 2015
Initial closures for Panel 7, Room 7, and Panel 6 are completed.
First hybrid bolter in use underground.
- 2016
WIPP’s Blue Mine Rescue Team wins the National Mine Rescue Competition championship.
Gov. Martinez cuts the ribbon at the grand opening of a new Emergency Operations Center.
- 2017
Waste emplacement resumes. Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz, Gov. Martinez, and members of the New Mexico congressional delegation attend a grand reopening ceremony.
Waste shipments resume, with the first shipment coming from INL.
- 2018
Mining resumes at WIPP.
Ground is broken for the Safety Significant Confinement Ventilation System, which will replace the existing ventilation system and significantly increase underground airflow.
Closure of the south end of the mine is completed.