WIPP News

Recent news and information related to EPA's role at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) will be posted to this page as they are available. For older news and information, please use the menu above.

For more WIPP News, see U.S. Department of Energy’s WIPP News.

If you have questions, please contact us at radiation.questions@epa.gov.

EPA Reviews Scientific Process Supporting Waste Disposal at the WIPP

Los Alamos National Laboratory Carlsbad Operations (LANL-CO), scientific advisor to the U.S. Department of Energy Carlsbad Field Office (CBFO), conducts scientific experiments in support of waste disposal at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP). During the week of May 13, 2024, EPA experts conducted an on-site review of scientific practices at LANL‑CO to understand LANL‑CO’s documentation processes, specifically related to performance assessment (PA) parameters for plutonium (Pu) oxidation state and microbial colloids. Sorption experiments were conducted with Pu and iron surfaces to inform final Pu oxidation state in WIPP conditions. During the week of April 21, 2025, EPA conducted a follow-up on-site review to evaluate progress related to issues identified during the May 2024 review.

Conclusions regarding microbial colloids:

  • LANL‑CO’s investigations of microbial colloids continue to be well documented. 
  • Consistent with EPA’s recommendation, information related to the isolation and characterization of microorganisms used in the experiments is now captured in quality assurance (QA) records. 
  • EPA’s recommendation to improve the traceability of information related to microorganism isolation and characterization has been appropriately addressed. 
  • EPA has no further recommendations regarding QA documentation for the microbial colloids’ investigations.

Conclusions regarding plutonium experiments:

  • EPA continues to reject the use of data from experiments involving Pu and magnetite for WIPP PA development, as these experiments are inconsistent with the WIPP conceptual model.
  • Results from experiments with Pu and iron metal conducted before the May 2024 on-site review cannot be used for PA parameter development because the report and data package documentation is inconsistent with QA standards. 
  • Results from experiments with Pu and iron metal conducted after the May 2024 on-site review may be considered for WIPP PA parameter development, if LANL-CO addresses EPA’s questions regarding radiolysis levels (of Pu-239) and plutonium‑to‑iron ratios under WIPP conditions.

See the reports and correspondence on Regulations.gov:

Learn more about Continuing Compliance at the WIPP.

EPA Approves Replacement Disposal Panels to Restore Lost Capacity at the WIPP

On July 31, 2025, the EPA approved the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Planned Change Request to use replacement panels 11 and 12 at the WIPP repository for disposal of transuranic (TRU) radioactive waste. The Replacement Panel Plan Change Request (RPPCR) documented the need and provided supporting information for 2 additional waste panels to replace lost capacity from the 10 waste panels developed originally for the WIPP. In its review of the DOE’s request, EPA found that DOE demonstrated that the repository would meet EPA's numeric release limits and thus warranted approval. 

All correspondence and supplemental information about Replacement Waste Panels 11 and 12 are on Regulations.gov at: Docket ID: EPA-HQ-OAR-2024-0309

Recordings and presentations from the stakeholder meetings are available at WIPP Stakeholder Engagement.

Learn more about Continuing Compliance at the WIPP.

Biennial Environmental Compliance Report (2024)

Every two years DOE must demonstrate to EPA that the WIPP facility complies with applicable Federal laws pertaining to public health and safety of the environment, including the regulations and permit requirements under such laws. This report is submitted to the EPA as the Biennial Environmental Compliance Report (BECR). EPA reviews the information and determines compliance or non-compliance.

EPA concluded that, for the reporting period of April 1, 2022, through March 31, 2024, the WIPP has remained in compliance with applicable environmental Federal laws and regulations.

Learn more about the WIPP Biennial Environmental Compliance Reports.

Recertification Submission Schedule Change & Updated EPA Guidance

On August 10, 2023, EPA approved a submission schedule change for the WIPP Compliance Recertification Application (CRA). This change will allow the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to submit for recertification five years after the date of the most recent completeness determination, as published in the Federal Register. EPA believes that this updated schedule will enable DOE to address the regulatory criteria more fully – permitting more time for scientific and experimental activities that benefit the performance assessment (PA), allowing for more frequent and meaningful scientific exchanges between EPA and DOE, and providing more opportunities for both parties to interact with the public.

Under the revised schedule, EPA expects DOE to submit the next Compliance Recertification Application on or before November 26, 2026.

EPA’s Concurrence on Schedule for Future CRA Submittals and the revised Guidance document: Docket Document ID EPA-HQ-OAR-2001-0012-0779

Learn more about WIPP Certification and Recertification.

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Last updated on September 29, 2026