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.