DOE Secretary Lauds WIPP, Carlsbad

    CARLSBAD, NM, March 26, 2015 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Carlsbad Department of Development President Jay Jenkins said he was extremely pleased with comments made about the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant during a presentation by Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz on March 24 at the Bipartisan Policy Center in Washington, D.C.

"It was a great day for WIPP and for Carlsbad," Jenkins said. "Secretary Moniz made it clear that the WIPP recovery effort is a top priority."

Moniz presented an update on the recommendations of the Blue Ribbon Commission on America's Nuclear Future. He emphasized the President's support for interim storage of spent fuel and his call to move forward with a repository for defense-generated high-level waste.

Moniz noted that a decision made in 1985 to "couple" defense-generated high-level waste with spent fuel no longer makes sense.

"Back then, the decision was understandable, but history has proven the assumptions made decades ago were misplaced," he said, adding that the inventory of defense-generated high-level waste is finite and small.

While Moniz's 20-minute presentation didn't specifically address WIPP, several of the questions he subsequently fielded were related to the New Mexico facility, including a query by Jenkins asking for an update on the recovery effort.

Moniz said the intention was still to resume operations in the first quarter of next year, though it will be two more years before full-scale operations resume.

"I cannot say how high a priority it is to get WIPP open and re-operating," Moniz emphasized. "Carlsbad has been a tremendous partner with us in opening WIPP, operating WIPP and now, unfortunately, handling the recovery incident at WIPP."

Former New Mexico Senator Pete Domenici said to Moniz he believed that the emphasis on WIPP's recovery means that the Department of Energy is working to resolve a compliance order with the State of New Mexico. He noted the interest of Carlsbad and New Mexico in being involved in future DOE projects.

"It would not be fair if anyone cuts short New Mexico's capacity or willingness to be involved in further projects," he stressed.

Moniz agreed.

"If Carlsbad is interested in being part of this consent-based process, we would welcome them with open arms," he responded.

Domenici also presented Moniz with a resolution approved by the City of Carlsbad, Eddy County, the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce and the Carlsbad Department of Development. The resolution emphasizes WIPP's importance and encourages the DOE and New Mexico to resolve the state's compliance order through ongoing negotiations.

"The Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce passed the resolution on Tuesday morning, and Senator Domenici hand delivered the Secretary of Energy a copy with signatures within an hour or two," Jenkins said. "WIPP's importance is clear to everyone involved."

The Carlsbad Department of Development is a member supported non-profit organization. Members represent over 100 chief executive officers in industry, business and finance, the City of Carlsbad, Eddy County Board of Commissioners, New Mexico State University-Carlsbad, and other organizations. The Carlsbad Department of Development is your first contact for business assistance in Carlsbad and Eddy County.

For additional information regarding this release
Carlsbad Department of Development / News Division
Office: 575-887-6562
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.DevelopCarlsbad.org

The Carlsbad Department of Development is the economic development agency for the City of Carlsbad and Eddy County, New Mexico

# # #