Waste Isolation Pilot Plant Case Study

The Waste Isolation Pilot Plant, or WIPP, located in New Mexico, is the world’s first underground repository licensed to safely and permanently dispose of transuranic radioactive waste. After more than 20 years of scientific study, public input, and regulatory struggles, WIPP began operations on March 26, 1999 and receives. The WIPP is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Clark County Nevada expected infrastructure changes would come about after the commencement of shipments to Yucca Mountain. County officials also wanted to plan on what to expect in its interactions with DOE and other federal agencies. As a result, Clark County contracted with UER who were asked to use the WIPP project as a case study to review in detail DOE’s interactions with the State and communities and the effectiveness of their mitigation strategies.