SE NM Businesses Support Salt Research at WIPP

    CARLSBAD, NM, November 10, 2011 /24-7PressRelease/ -- The Carlsbad Department of Development (CDOD) endorses the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) underground repository as the best place to conduct Salt Disposal Investigation (SDI) tests. SDI is a heat-producing experiment currently under consideration that would provide answers on how thermally hot waste behaves in salt beds. This would help the Department of Energy (DOE) make a decision on the best way to isolate long-lived and thermally hot radioactive waste from the environment.

"The Blue Ribbon Commission on America's Nuclear Future (BRC) has said that the DOE should continue conducting research," said Carlsbad Department of Development President Jody Knox. "Our governor, Susana Martinez, has also indicated that she will support waste management decisions that are based on sound science. The CDOD believes WIPP is the appropriate place to conduct this research."

SDI would involve laboratory studies and a field test to simulate the thermally hot canisters that would be used if this waste were disposed in salt. These tests are simulations, so they will not involve actual waste, nor will they interfere with other ongoing processes underground at the WIPP site.

"Once you decide this experiment is needed, WIPP is the obvious location," Knox said. "WIPP has miners in place who are trained in nuclear waste issues, and New Mexico's two national labs (Sandia and Los Alamos) have offices in Carlsbad. All the pieces needed to develop the SDI experiment are already in place here."

"SDI would preserve and create jobs in Southeastern New Mexico," Knox concluded. "And it would answer national questions. The CDOD endorses this project fully."

The Carlsbad Department of Development promotes the economic and general welfare of the citizens of the City of Carlsbad and South Eddy County, New Mexico.

Website: http://www.developcarlsbad.org

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