Underground rooms at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant where radiation leaked in 2014 , but nuclear watchdogs are not satisfied.
When the , the state environment department ordered the plant to close off the area as quickly as possible.
Now, 14 months later, the area has been back filled with salt ten feet deep and then sealed off with chain link fence, some cloth and a steel bulkhead. They鈥檝e also installed air monitors.
鈥淣obody should think this is okay in case of a serious accident,鈥� Don Hancock with the said, explaining that the barrier is not a permanent solution. 鈥淚t鈥檚 designed to limit the air flow and to keep people out, but this doesn鈥檛 prevent radiation from going through.鈥�
In the past the DOE has built explosion isolation walls to seal off areas containing radioactive materials. They are in the process of negotiating what other steps they must take in order to protect the area at WIPP.
The Environmental Protection Agency is seeking public input. The agency will host a round table discussion about WIPP on June 17th beginning at 2:30 p.m.
