OFFICIALS AT NEW MEXICO'S WASTE ISOLATION PILOT PLANT COULD SEND THE FIRST CREWS DOWN INTO THE UNDERGROUND NUCLEAR REPOSITORY THIS WEEK. MEANWHILE, ESSENTIAL PERSONNEL AT THE WIPP SITE NEAR CARLSBAD ARE STILL BEING TRAINED ON NEW SAFETY PROCEDURES. THE TRAINING STARTED ABOUT A WEEK AND A HALF AGO.
THE WIPP SITE WAS SHUT DOWN IN FEBRUARY AFTER A TRUCK FIRE IN AN UNDERGROUND MINE FOLLOWED BY A RADIATION LEAK. OFFICIALS SAY IT WAS ONLY A LOW LEVEL LEAK … BUT 17 WORKERS WERE EXPOSED.
