Assessment of Work Planning and Control at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant
Office of Enterprise Assessments
December 16, 2016
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December 2016
Assessment of Work Planning and Control at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Worker Safety and Health Assessments, within the independent Office of Enterprise Assessments (EA), conducted an assessment of work planning and control (WP&C), and selected elements of the radiological protection program, the industrial hygiene program, and the contractor assurance system (CAS) at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP). EA also examined the DOE Carlsbad Field Office (CBFO) oversight activities at WIPP. Nuclear Waste Partnership, LLC (NWP) operates WIPP, and the CBFO provides Federal oversight. EA conducted this assessment June 13-16 and July 11-14, 2016.
During this assessment, WIPP was in the recovery phase for resumption of waste emplacement operations since a shutdown of operations as a result of two events in February 2014. EA observed work in the areas of maintenance, underground services, and other mine recovery operations.