• SIMCO seeks grant submittals from Eddy and Lea counties’ non-profits

    SIMCO seeks grant submittals from Eddy and Lea counties’ non-profits

    CARLSBAD, NEW MEXICO — Salado Isolation Mining Contractors, LLC (SIMCO) announced today the company is now accepting grant proposals from non-profit agencies throughout Eddy and Lea Counties for its 2026 Employee Investment Advisory Committee program. The program is now in its fourth year.

    In 2025, the program awarded $75,000 in grants to nonprofit organizations to enrich the lives of people in Southeast New Mexico.

    The program’s 2026 funding priorities are:
    – Arts & Culture/Community Vitality
    – Children, Youth, and Families
    – Food Security
    – Health & Human Services

    The online application is available at https://simco-llc.us/investment-advisory-committee/. Applications can be mailed, or hand delivered, and are due Monday, August 31, 2026, by 5:00 p.m. mountain time.

    For questions, please contact Ekta Bhakta, SIMCO Community Relations & Charitable Giving at (832) 689-1049 or ekta.bhakta@wipp.doe.gov.

    About the SIMCO Employee Investment Advisory Committee

    The Employee Investment Advisory Grant Fund mission is to allocate company-funded grants, where the need is greatest, using the collective skills and knowledge of SIMCO’s employees to make a positive impact in the communities where they live and work.

    The Employee Investment Advisory Committee is representative of SIMCO’s diverse workforce and comprised of selected non-managerial employees who have been recognized for their leadership qualities by both their managers and peers. This innovative approach gives SIMCO’s employees direct influence where a portion of the company’s charitable contributions are made, extending funding across a wider array of regional nonprofit organizations.

    About SIMCO

    SIMCO is the management and operations contractor for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP). SIMCO’s member is Bechtel National Inc., and our WIPP team includes Los Alamos Technical Associates as a New Mexico-based teaming subcontractor.

    As a major employer, SIMCO understands the importance of investing in the region’s near- and long-term success by being a positive, proactive member of the community; participating in socioeconomic development; and making investments in social and philanthropic programs for the betterment of the residents of Southeastern New Mexico.

  • SIMCO supports Inspired by Science’s STEM education efforts

    SIMCO supports Inspired by Science’s STEM education efforts

    Salado Isolation Mining Contractors (SIMCO) is proud to support STEM education and invest in the next generation of innovators. Recently, SIMCO presented a $13,000 donation to Inspired by Science to help expand hands-on STEM learning opportunities for elementary students across our community.

    Inspired by Science continues to make a lasting impact by inspiring young minds through fun, educational science experiences that encourage future careers in STEM fields.

    “We are proud to support Inspired by Science and its mission to spark curiosity and excitement for STEM education in young students,” said Ken Harrawood, SIMCO Program Manager. “Investing in hands-on learning opportunities today helps inspire the next generation of innovators, scientists, and leaders in our community.”

  • SIMCO partners with the MLK Scholarship Committee and Carlsbad Municipal Schools to host the Fourth Annual Passport to Adventure Event

    SIMCO proudly partnered with the MLK Scholarship Committee and Carlsbad Municipal Schools to host the Fourth Annual Passport to Adventure event. The event brought together a wide range of community partners, including Los Alamos National Laboratory, Sandia National Laboratories, LATA, Cave & Karst, CNB Bank, Southeast New Mexico College, and several other local businesses—all united in support of STEM education.
     
    “This year’s theme, Space, was especially exciting as it coincided with the recent Artemis mission orbiting the moon, sparking curiosity and inspiration among students,” said Dr. Joy James-Foster, Education Outreach Lead for SIMCO.  Attendees participated in an engaging scavenger hunt, visiting interactive booths hosted by participating organizations, where they explored science, technology, engineering, and math in fun and meaningful ways.
     
    SIMCO contributed to literacy efforts by sponsoring books for students, CNB Bank Sponsored the lunches and several giveaways, while Los Alamos National Laboratory donated a high-powered telescope and the MLK Scholarship Committee donated tablets, robots, and Star Wars collectibles.
     
    The event was both memorable and impactful, leaving students inspired and equipped with several books to take home by SIMCO and LATA—helping to build their personal libraries and foster a love for learning that extends beyond the classroom.
     
    We want to extend a special thanks to United Way for their continued support as well as the City of Carlsbad and the Riverwalk Recreation Center for providing the venue.

  • Salado Isolation Mining Contractors Proudly Awards $20,000 in Local Scholarships to High School Seniors

    Salado Isolation Mining Contractors Proudly Awards $20,000 in Local Scholarships to High School Seniors

    CARLSBAD, N.M., May 4, 2026 – Salado Isolation Mining Contractors (SIMCO) proudly announces its 2026 SIMCO scholarship program recipients. Helping to build brighter futures with its commitment to education, SIMCO celebrated the recent award of 20 scholarships totaling $20,000. These scholarships went to high school seniors in Eddy and Lea counties. They were selected from a highly competitive pool of applicants.

    “SIMCO is committed to investing in our student’s post-secondary education. A college education can have a lasting impact on their lives. We’re proud to play a small part in that journey,” said Dr. Joy James-Foster, SIMCO Education Outreach Lead. “SIMCO scholarships are just one way we’re supporting our students and investing in their futures.”

    Students from Artesia, Carlsbad, Hobbs and Loving received scholarships. They were:

    Artesia High School
    Clay Kincaid

    Carlsbad High School
    Reenson Akwiembi, Raj Bhakta, Jaylynn DeAnda, Makayla Franco, Jaren Fuentes, Tristan Henley, Emma Hernandez-DeAnda, Abigail Huston, Alexia Lujan, Omar Machuca, Megan McKibben, Chloe Melvin, Hanli Norman and Ariyana Rogers

    Hobbs High School
    Mia Amezcua, Chloe Conder, Dakota Hayes and Basilia Hernandez

    Loving High School
    Tabias Chacon

    SIMCO also provided funding for the Martin Luther King Scholarship Fund, the Carlsbad Class Act Scholarship Fund, the Hobbs Bash Graduation Night Fund, and the Falcon Fest Scholarship Fund.

    To be considered for a SIMCO scholarship, students must plan to attend an accredited college or university.

    About WIPP

    SIMCO is the management and operations contractor for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) near Carlsbad. WIPP, the nation’s only permanent geologic repository for defense transuranic nuclear waste, began disposal operations in 1999.

    TRU waste began accumulating at generator sites since the 1940s with the beginning of the United States’ nuclear defense program. As early as the 1950s, the National Academy of Sciences recommended deep disposal of long-lived TRU radioactive wastes in geologically stable formations, such as deep salt beds.

    In 1979, Congress authorized WIPP, and construction began in 1980. In 1992, Congress limited the disposal of defense-generated TRU waste by enacting the Land Withdrawal Act. In 1998, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency certified WIPP for safe, long-term disposal of TRU waste. A year later, the New Mexico Environment Department issued a Hazardous Waste Facility Permit for WIPP to operate.

    Located in Southeast New Mexico, about 33 miles east of Carlsbad, the WIPP repository is mined out of a 2,000-foot-thick salt bed formed approximately 250 million years ago where TRU waste is disposed of 2,150 feet underground. After the waste is emplaced, the salt will slowly encapsulate the containers, permanently and safely entombing them.

  • WIPP Successfully Completes Annual Maintenance Outage

    WIPP Successfully Completes Annual Maintenance Outage

    CARLSBAD, NM, March 17, 2026, ─ The Department of Energy (DOE) Environmental Management’s (EM) Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) is once again accepting shipments and processing transuranic (TRU) waste following a successful annual maintenance outage that keeps the facility’s vital national mission going.

    The maintenance outage, at the nation’s only deep geologic repository for nuclear waste, spanned from January 5 to March 13, with 145 critical work activities completed, including 112 preventive maintenance items and 31 corrective actions. Personnel from six departments, including mine operations, waste handling, hoisting, work control, safety and engineering were part of making the outage a success.

    Preventive maintenance at WIPP is done on a schedule that can range from daily to annually. Quarterly efforts generally take about a week to complete. Once a year, a multi-week outage is scheduled to handle projects needing the greatest effort that cannot be performed while normal waste operations are ongoing.

    “The completion of this year’s maintenance outage reflects the dedication and professionalism of the workforce at WIPP. These planned outages allow us to focus on detailed inspections and maintenance activities that protect our employees, maintain our infrastructure, and ensure we continue operating safely and efficiently,” said Mark Bollinger, manager of the EM Carlsbad Field Office.

    No waste shipments from DOE’s nationwide generator sites are made to WIPP during the maintenance period. Salado Isolation Mining Contractors (SIMCO), WIPP’s management and operations contractor, led the maintenance team.

    In one of the largest projects in this year’s outage, crews replaced the core of the waste hoist motor, located five stories high inside the waste hoist tower. The motor controls six head ropes, three tail ropes and a 53-ton counterweight, all integral to moving waste, material and personnel 2,150 feet into and out of the WIPP underground. The hoist can carry up to 75 personnel and 45 tons of waste or equipment. Installed in the early 1980s, the hoist’s motor was recently disassembled, lowered by crane five stories to the ground level. Crews then lifted and secured a new motor core at the top of the hoist. The motor and its replacement were purchased at the same time, approximately 45 years ago, allowing the replacement motor to remain in storage at the WIPP site until it was needed.

  • Salado Isolation Mining Contractors Marks One Year Without a Recordable Injury and Surpasses Three Million Safe Work Hours

    Salado Isolation Mining Contractors Marks One Year Without a Recordable Injury and Surpasses Three Million Safe Work Hours


    CARLSBAD, N.M., February 19, 2026 – Salado Isolation Mining Contractors (SIMCO) leadership at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) announced today, its workforce has achieved two significant safety milestones in the same week: one full year without a recordable injury for a SIMCO employee, while surpassing three million consecutive safe work hours.

    This achievement reflects the daily commitment of WIPP employees to follow established safety protocols, as every employee plays a role in maintaining a safe and healthy workplace.

    This accomplishment highlights the effectiveness of WIPP’s safety culture, where employees are encouraged to bring safety concerns to management and ensure issues are properly addressed. Every employee is empowered to stop work when they feel conditions are unsafe, and are urged to participate in safety briefings, inspections, and ongoing training. The site will continue to build on this success by reinforcing safe work behaviors and identifying opportunities for further improvements in recordable injuries – defined as any work-related incident resulting in death, days away from work, restricted work, loss of consciousness, or medical treatment beyond first aid.

    “Over the past year, we completed several significant construction projects and exceeded our goal in receiving and emplacing waste from generator sites in New Mexico and around the nation,” added Ken Harrawood, SIMCO program manager. “Achieving these safety milestones, while also successfully accomplishing a substantial amount of work, is truly remarkable. More importantly, we are reminded that every employee deserves to go home healthy at the end of the day.”

    WIPP began operations on March 26, 1999, when its first shipment was received from th Los Alamos National Laboratory. To date, WIPP has received and disposed of over 14,700 shipments from New Mexico and across the nation. This includes over 2.8 million cubic feet of TRU waste safely disposed, comprising over 220,800 containers.

    About WIPP

    TRU waste began accumulating at generator sites since the 1940s with the beginning of the United States’ nuclear defense program. As early as the 1950s, the National Academy of Sciences recommended deep disposal of long-lived TRU radioactive wastes in geologically stable formations, such as deep salt beds.

    In 1979, Congress authorized WIPP, and construction began in 1980. In 1992, Congress limited the disposal of defense-generated TRU waste by enacting the Land Withdrawal Act. In 1998, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency certified WIPP for safe, long-term disposal of TRU waste.  A year later, the New Mexico Environment Department issued a Hazardous Waste Facility Permit for WIPP to operate.

    Located in Southeast New Mexico, about 33 miles east of Carlsbad, the WIPP repository is mined out of a 2,000-foot-thick salt bed formed approximately 250 million years ago where TRU waste is disposed of 2,150 feet underground. After the waste is emplaced, the salt will slowly encapsulate the containers, permanently and safely entombing them.

  • $1000 Scholarships Available for Eddy and Lea County Graduating Seniors 

    $1000 Scholarships Available for Eddy and Lea County Graduating Seniors SIMCO Education Scholarships Program Accepting Applications

    CARLSBAD, NM – With graduation season around the corner, Salado Isolation Mining Contractors LLC (SIMCO) is accepting applications for college scholarships through its SIMCO Education Scholarship Program. Graduating seniors from Eddy and Lea counties can apply beginning February 13, 2026, through March 13, 2026.

    A limited number of one-time $1,000 scholarships are available to qualified 2026 graduating seniors selected from Carlsbad, Hobbs, and Loving schools. SIMCO will accept applications online until 5 p.m. on March 13, 2026. Applications received after the deadline will not be considered. Selected recipients will be notified no later than March 25, 2026.

    SIMCO realizes that education is the foundation of a strong and thriving community. The recipients of these SIMCO scholarships are the daughters and sons of our employees, our families, and our friends. Celebrating their academic achievement not only provides them with educational opportunities, it enriches our region when they return to work and raise families here.

    The online application, along with information about proposal and evaluation criteria, is available at

    https://form.jotform.com/230386090101040 or scan QR code to apply.

    For more information about the SIMCO Education Scholarships Program, contact Dr. Joy James-Foster, Education Outreach, SIMCO Communications, at (575) 234-7512 or joy.james-foster@wipp.doe.gov

  • Winners of 2026 Southeastern New Mexico Regional Science Bowl Announced

    Winners of 2026 Southeastern New Mexico Regional Science Bowl Announced

    The winning team will compete at the National Science Bowl in Washington, DC in April

    CARLSBAD, NM, February 7, 2026, ─ After a nearly a full day of intense academic competition, Team 1 from New Mexico Military Institute (NMMI) in Roswell was named champion of the third annual Southeastern New Mexico Regional Science Bowl. This was NMMI’s third championship win in the past three years.

    Hosted and sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and Salado Isolation Mining Contractors (SIMCO), ten teams of students competed in a round-robin style competition, each hoping to represent the SE New Mexico region at the National Science Bowl in Washington, D.C., April 28 – May 4, 2026.

    The competition was held at Southeast New Mexico College in Carlsbad, where teams from Carlsbad Early College High School, New Mexico Military Institute, Carlsbad High School and Hobbs High School participated. Team 1 from NMMI emerged the winner and is moving on to compete nationally. Team 2 from Carlsbad High School finished second, followed by Team 2 at NMMI in third place.

    Throughout the 34-year history of the National Science Bowl, approximately 344,000 students have competed in the National Science Bowl® program. Teams are composed of four students, one alternate and a teacher who serves as an advisor and coach. The competition tests the students on a range of science disciplines including biology, chemistry, earth science, physics, energy and math. The DOE Office of Science manages the National Science Bowl® and sponsors the final competitions in DC.

    First Place – New Mexico Military Institute Team 1

    Coach:             Colonel Aonan Tang
    Team:              Lucas Tang, Yamming Wu, Leon Kaufmann Martinez, Sooah Kim, Sylvia Xu

    Second Place – Carlsbad High School Team 2

    Coach:             Danelle Middleton
    Team:              Jack Dodd, Raj Bhakta, Chloe Melvin, August McCuaig, Olivia Jang

    Third Place – New Mexico Military Institute Team 2

    Coach:             Colonel Aonan Tang
    Team:              Kevin Chang, Colin Zhang, Nikola Frye, Tianxing Li, Vittorio Vettore

  • DOE Awards SIMCO Three More Years to Lead WIPP Operations

    CARLSBAD, N.M., December 10, 2025 – The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) issued a contract modification to Salado Isolation Mining Contractors (SIMCO) for an additional three years to manage and operate the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) in Carlsbad, NM. The extended performance period begins October 1, 2026 and continues through September 30, 2029. With this extension, SIMCO will continue advancing WIPP’s mission of safely disposing TRU waste while protecting workers, the public and the environment.

    DOE’s decision follows a comprehensive performance review highlighting SIMCO’s achievements:

    • Safety Leadership: SIMCO has demonstrated a strong commitment to safely and compliantly delivering the mission, operating without a recordable injury since February 2025. Its 12-month rolling Total Recordable Incident Rate of 0.21 at the end of November is well below SIMCO’s aggressive target of 0.30 and far outperforms DOE’s goals of 0.8 (established by Carlsbad Field Office) and 1.1 (DOE headquarters).
    • Operational Excellence: SIMCO exceeded shipping goals for three consecutive years.
    • Infrastructure Success: SIMCO delivered two major projects ahead of schedule and under budget – the new underground air filtration and ventilation system and a utility shaft that enhances airflow and will serve as an additional hoist. The team also refurbished the salt pocket and completed multiple site improvements.

    “We are pleased to extend SIMCO’s contract for the next three years,” said Mark Bollinger, manager of DOE’s Carlsbad Field Office. “SIMCO has been an exceptional partner, safely emplacing waste from across the nation while completing critical infrastructure projects ahead of schedule and under budget, all without disrupting WIPP’s mission or compromising safety.”

    The Bechtel-led SIMCO team has strengthened the nation’s only deep geologic repository for defense-related transuranic (TRU) waste, exceeding shipment goals each year, advancing major infrastructure upgrades and maintaining uninterrupted TRU waste processing – all with more than 2 million safe work hours and no lost-time incidents. Under the leadership of SIMCO, the site has consistently exceeded waste-shipment targets, including completing its 1,000th shipment under SIMCO’s stewardship.

    SIMCO was awarded a ten-year management and operating contract in November 2022, which consisted of an initial four-year base contract and six one-year contract extension options. In this recent agreement, DOE extended the contract for three of the six one-year extensions, with the remaining three one-year options still available to be exercised.

    “We appreciate DOE’s continued confidence in our team and the work we deliver,” said Ken Harrawood, SIMCO president and program manager. “Our partnership with the Carlsbad Field Office is exceptional, and we look forward to advancing this work to continue WIPP’s important environmental cleanup mission.”

  • SIMCO awards $20 thousand in teacher STEM mini-grants

    SIMCO awards $20 thousand in teacher STEM mini-grants

    Company selects fifteen teachers from Eddy and Lea counties

    Carlsbad, N.M. — Salado Isolation Mining Contractors, LLC (SIMCO) is pleased to award $20,000 in STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) teacher mini-grants to 15 area teachers throughout Eddy and Lea counties as part of its continued commitment to local communities.

    SIMCO’s Mini-Grant program encourages, promotes and coordinates STEM education, along with a broader focus of incorporating a ‘hands on’ approach in the classroom. Awards ranged from $1000 to $2,000. SIMCO will present the awards to the teachers during a private ceremony on November 18, 2025.

    “SIMCO is an integral part of the Eddy and Lea county communities, and we feel it’s vital to support education in those counties,” said President and Program Manager Ken Harrawod. “I am very excited by the wide selection of ages and schools represented within our STEM grant program. We are proud to support our schools and our teachers, and I offer my deep appreciation to all of the teachers in our region.”

    “We fully recognize the time and dedication teachers invest in STEM education. A STEM-focused education is something that benefits students throughout their lives,” said Dr. Joy James-Foster, SIMCO’s education outreach lead.

    STEM Teacher Mini-Grant awardees include:

    • $2,000 to Lea Elementary School (Loving, NM) to purchase mini education robots that the school will use as a hands-on introduction to coding and problem-solving for its STEM Lab.
    • $2,000 to Yarbro Elementary School (Lovington, NM) to design, build, and safely launch commercially manufactured model rockets using solid‑propellant model motors.
    • $2,000 to Booker T. Washington Elementary School (Hobbs, NM) to purchase “Squishy Circuits,” a science activity for grades K-5 as a design tool that allows students to create circuits and explore electronics using playdoh.
    • $2,000 to Carlsbad Early College High School (Carlsbad, NM) to acquire a full set of tablets to provide 1:1or a 2:1 student device ratio in the STEM Lab so that each student can access digital tools for coding, virtual labs, data collection and engineering design software.
    • $1,500 to Alta Vista Middle School (Carlsbad) to purchase supplies to build a STEM Greenhouse Lab. This lab will allow students to study plant growth and to observe environmental factors.
    • $1,500 to Cottonwood Elementary School (Carlsbad) to purchase supplies which will provide first grade students with engaging, hands-on STEM activities to spark curiosity, creativity, and much-needed problem solving skills.
    • $1,500 to Desert Willow Elementary School (Carlsbad) to introduce 3D printer pens into the STEM classroom, providing younger students with hands-on experience in 3D printing.
    • $1,000 to Carlsbad High School (Carlsbad) to purchase seeds and gardening supplies to provide hands-on science education to students with cognitive disabilities.
    • $1,000 to Hobbs High School (Hobbs) funding to purchase models to use as a tool to teach the concept of derivatives. Models help students at all levels in visual representation and explorations, building a better conceptual understanding.
    • $1,000 to SENM Homeschool Hub (Carlsbad) for supplies allowing students to design and test miniature hazardous waste storage systems using engineering principles and materials science concepts.
    • $1,000 to CTECH (Hobbs) to purchase eight Sphero Bolt Robots and the accompanying Terrain Park kit for use in their Mechatronics and Robotics/Drone classes.
    • $1,000 to the Carlsbad High School theater program (Carlsbad) to acquire supplies allowing them to integrate chemistry and engineering with theatrical design.
    • $1,000 awarded to Carlsbad Early College High School (Carlsbad) to purchase a classroom set of graphing calculators for use in the STEM Lab.
    • $1,000 to Loving High School (Loving) to purchase Kindle Fire tablets to serve as dedicated control devices for Sphero robots and DJI drones providing hands-on experience with robotics programming and autonomous flight systems.
    • $500 to Early Childhood Education Center (Carlsbad) to integrate “Little Engineers: Building Our Neighborhood,” a hands-on STEM project where kindergarten students will explore basic engineering, math, and science concepts by designing and constructing a model neighborhood.

    SIMCO, a subsidiary of Bechtel America, is deeply committed to advancing education and enhancing social services throughout Southeastern New Mexico. Each year, the company dedicates a portion of its revenue to funding grants, scholarships, and community initiatives that foster opportunity, drive success, and support long-term stability for local residents.

    In 2025, SIMCO’s employee-led advisory committee also awarded $75,000 to 11 nonprofit organizations, focusing on critical areas such as food security, literacy, public health and safety and STEM education. Among other notable contributions this year, SIMCO played a key role in bringing New Mexico’s first high school-level Cal Ripken, Sr. STEM Lab at Carlsbad Early College High School – marking a significant milestone in the region’s educational landscape.