Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) Site 101 Video
Office of Environmental Management
The Waste Isolation Pilot Plant is the nation’s only repository for the disposal of transuranic waste generated by atomic energy defense activities. WIPP is located 33 miles southeast of Carlsbad, New Mexico, in the Chihuahuan Desert, far from major population centers. Waste is disposed of in a set of panels located nearly one-half mile below the surface in a deep geologic salt bed formed 250 million years ago. The facility began operation in 1999 and celebrated 20 years of operations in 2019. To date, WIPP has received approximately 13,000 shipments that were safely transported more than 15 million cumulative miles. Watch the video above to learn more about the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant.
Field Manager
Reinhard Knerr, Carlsbad Field Office Manager
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Budget
| FY21 Enacted (In the millions) |
FY22 Enacted (In the millions) |
FY23 Requested (In the millions) |
| $420 | $451 | $463 |
Another shipment of Transuranic (TRU) waste arrives safely at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant, 26 miles southeast of Carlsbad, New Mexico.
WIPP News
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An association recently named the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) as a recipient of the 2022 Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) Outreach Award.
August 9, 2022
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EM’s Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) recently sponsored two community events allowing visitors from across New Mexico to visit the site and learn more about its critical national mission.
August 2, 2022
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Senior leaders from EM’s Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) hosted a Community Forum and Open House on July 7 at the Santa Fe Convention Center in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
July 12, 2022
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The Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Environmental Management (EM) awarded the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) Management and Operating (M&O) Contract to Tularosa Basin Range Services, LLC (TBRS), located in Reston, Virginia.
July 11, 2022
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The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) awarded two non-competitive financial assistance renewal awards totaling approximately $12 million to the New Mexico Environment Department, and the New Mexico Energy, Minerals & Natural Resources Department.
June 30, 2022
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State regulators gathered for the spring meeting of the NGA Federal Facilities Task Force (FFTF) received updates from Jay Mullis, acting associate principal deputy assistant secretary for regulatory and policy affairs.
June 21, 2022
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New STEM Centers Funded by Waste Isolation Pilot Plant Contractor Enlighten Students, Teachers Alike
EM Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) management and operations contractor Nuclear Waste Partnership (NWP) is playing an important part in helping southeastern New Mexico students develop a lifelong interest in science, technology, engineering and math.
June 14, 2022
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The final Transuranic Package Transporter Model 3 (TRUPACT-III) container of legacy transuranic (TRU) waste from Savannah River Site (SRS) arrived at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) for permanent disposal on the afternoon of April 14.
May 3, 2022
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EM’s Waste Isolation Pilot Plant moved a step closer to completing a milestone when employees began filling the last disposal room in Panel 7 in the underground repository with transuranic waste.
April 19, 2022
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