CARLSBAD, N.M. September 23, 2025 — A critical piece of underground infrastructure at the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management’s (EM) Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) is back in operation after a major renovation.

WIPP’s salt hoist is the lone way to get mined salt out of the underground and onto the surface where it is taken to the salt stockpiles. Excess salt is created when the salt beds are cut to make new disposal rooms and that salt is collected in the salt pocket. Over time, the walls of the salt pocket, which extends 55 feet below the surface, naturally compresses, or “creeps” and must be recut to its original diameter. Completion of the $15 million project allows WIPP to resume mining in Panel 11, the next waste emplacement panel. Mining cannot be completed without having a holding area for the salt that is removed during the mining process.

WIPP, the nation’s only repository for defense-related transuranic waste, emplaces waste 2,150 feet underground in rooms mined from a thick layer of salt from what was once an inland sea. Transuranic waste is comprised of debris, residues, soil, and other items contaminated with radioactive elements that have atomic numbers greater than uranium.

“The salt pocket is critical to our continued success as we safely dispose of the nation’s defense-related transuranic waste,” said EM Carlsbad Field Office Manager Mark Bollinger. “Investing in this project ensures that we efficiently manage facility operations into the future.”

The work is part of EM’s ongoing effort to upgrade WIPP’s infrastructure to ensure the facility remains ready to support its vital national security and environmental cleanup missions. During the refurbishment project, worker safety was a constant priority and WIPP has been able to effectively manage the operations without significant impact on the overall mission.

In operating the WIPP, infrastructure needs are continuously evaluated to ensure that the facility remains safe, efficient, and capable of meeting regulatory, operational, and mission requirements. Ongoing evaluations allow us to recognize necessary upgrades or improvements that support long-term waste disposal while protecting workers, the public and the environment.

CARLSBAD, N.M., August 18, 2025 – The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) and Salado Isolation Mining Contractors (SIMCO) have received approval from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the use of replacement waste disposal panels 11 and 12. This decision follows a thorough review and evaluation by the EPA, authorizing the disposal of defense-generated transuranic (TRU) waste in the replacement panels.

The replacement panels are necessary due to the loss of available disposal space from not utilizing Panels 9 and 10. The decision to not use the two panels came after careful evaluation of ground conditions in those areas, prioritizing the safety of the workforce and the long-term integrity of the underground.

The New Mexico Environment Department approved construction of panels 11 and 12 in 2023, with mining of Panel 11 beginning in December of that year. In addition, the DOE submitted a Replacement Panels Planned Change Request to the EPA, for approval of these replacement panels for the continued disposal of TRU waste.

“These additional panels support WIPP’s mission toward disposal of the congressional volume mandate,” said Michael Gerle, Director of Environmental Regulatory Compliance at the DOE’s Carlsbad Field Office. “They are essential for ensuring WIPP can continue its critical role in supporting national security and environmental cleanup efforts.”

Each disposal panel is composed of seven rooms, each room measuring about 300 feet long, 33 feet wide and 13 feet high. TRU waste containers are carefully stacked within these rooms, for permanent disposal. Once a room is filled, it is sealed off from the ventilation system and operations transition to the next adjacent room.

“I cannot overstate how critical this approval is to the continued operation of the WIPP facility,” added Ken Harrawood, SIMCO program manager. “It reflects the strong collaboration between the WIPP team and the EPA, and I want to extend my sincere appreciation to everyone involved for their dedication and hard work.”

Due to the natural tendency of salt to gradually close in overtime, new panels are mined on a just-in-time basis to maintain operational efficiency. Based on current projections, replacement Panel 11 is expected to be completed by mid-2027.