Millions for Mistakes

NM Environment Department levels fines of $54 million over nuclear waste leak

The state Environment Department is issuing fines for over $54 million in response to the radiation leak that occurred at an underground nuclear waste storage facility in southeastern New Mexico early this year.

The barrel of plutonium-laced trash that was packed by Los Alamos National Laboratory and interred at the Waste Isolation Pilot Project in Carlsbad burst open in February, exposing workers and the general public to potential radiation contamination.

The department announced this morning that its nine-month investigation of that event and of a truck fire a few days early at WIPP resulted in evidence that both the lab and WIPP violated conditions of their state-issued hazardous waste permits. LANL, it says in a press release, violated 24 conditions and has to pay more than $36.6 million, while WIPP made 17 such blunders. Fines for the southeastern New Mexico facility fines amount to more than $17.7 million.

But whether any of that money actually changes hands is up in the air.

The environment department told the lab that no federal money earmarked for cleanup or operational needs may be used to pay the civil penalties. The monetary punishment could be reduced, its statement says, if the Department of Energy, which oversees both facilities, proves it has taken steps to improve "future compliance" with state rules.

"The health and safety of New Mexicans will always be our priority and we have to hold the federal agencies accountable for safe operations in the state of New Mexico," reads a statement in the press release from Gov. Susana Martinez. "The federal Department of Energy is a strong partner with us, and we will continue to work with them closely to ensure their success in our state."

Last month, the Santa Fe New Mexican published a report that indicated lab officials downplayed the danger of the waste even after the leak was discovered. Lab officials said this summer than preliminary research showed  the barrel's contents a lead glove, and organic kitty litter could have caused a chemical reaction that lead to the breach.

WIPP is expected to remain closed for several years during remediation.

Note: An earlier version of this story gave the wrong dollar figure for the fines.

Letters to the Editor

Mail letters to PO Box 4910 Santa Fe, NM 87502 or email them to editor[at]sfreporter.com. Letters (no more than 200 words) should refer to specific articles in the Reporter. Letters will be edited for space and clarity.

We also welcome you to follow SFR on social media (on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter) and comment there. You can also email specific staff members from our contact page.