The Idaho Cleanup Project continued strong progress in transuranic waste cleanup this year, exceeding certification and shipping goals that support disposal at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant and uphold commitments to the state of Idaho.
Office of Environmental Management
November 10, 2026
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IDAHO FALLS, Idaho — The Idaho Cleanup Project (ICP) continued strong progress in transuranic waste cleanup this year, exceeding certification and shipping goals that support disposal at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) and uphold commitments to the state of Idaho.
This momentum aligns with the Idaho Settlement Agreement, which requires 55% of transuranic waste shipments to WIPP come from Idaho on a running three-year average. U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) reporting shows more than half of all shipments to the underground repository arrived from the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) Site over WIPP’s 27-year operating history. Between 2024 and 2026, about 64% of WIPP shipments originated from Idaho.
To date, WIPP has received about 15,000 total shipments since operations began. ICP contributed the greatest volume among DOE Office of Environmental Management sites, including 7,485 contact-handled and 364 remote-handled transuranic waste shipments. Read about the difference between contact-and remote-handled waste here.
This year marked the first time ICP combined contact- and remote-handled transuranic waste shipments to WIPP, reflecting continued expansion of shipping capability across the Idaho National Laboratory Site.
Workers at the Idaho Cleanup Project’s Advanced Mixed Waste Treatment Project build a transuranic waste payload using a heavy-duty, lead-lined steel container designed to safely package, store and transport the waste.
In the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, ICP met or exceeded certification milestones for contact- and remote-handled transuranic waste. Key to ICP’s consistent performance is its ability to certify the waste independently. Waste at ICP’s Advanced Mixed Waste Treatment Project (AMWTP) is characterized, treated, repackaged, certified and shipped under ICP contractor Idaho Environmental Coalition’s (IEC) qualified program. ICP’s mature certification capability supports higher and steadier shipment rates. Click here for more information on WIPP’s Central Characterization Project.
IEC Waste Management Senior Project Director Kelly Wooley highlighted the teamwork behind this success.
“The close coordination between the Waste Certification and AMWTP teams is central to sustaining Idaho’s strong shipping performance. None of this progress would be possible without the workers in the field, whose safe execution of daily tasks enables us to consistently process, certify and ship thousands of containers each year,” Wooley said. “Their skill and commitment underpin the momentum Idaho continues to demonstrate in meeting cleanup and shipment goals.”
Inventories at the INL Site include over 17,000 contact-handled transuranic waste containers stored at the AMWTP and roughly 1,000 remote-handled transuranic waste containers at the Idaho Nuclear Technology and Engineering Center. Crews have identified more than 13,000 containers as certifiable for future shipments, supporting sustained progress.
Much of this momentum is underpinned by improvements to WIPP’s waste handling infrastructure. Recent upgrades in ventilation, equipment reliability and safe waste movement help maintain stable facility operations and ensure that waste characterization, inspection and certification continue without interruption.
The ICP team’s work this year reflects DOE’s commitment to steady, safe and accountable progress in environmental cleanup. Continued success in certifying and shipping transuranic waste reduces long-term risk and keeps cleanup moving forward across the site.
-Contributor: Ryan Christensen
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