Check out the FAQ,Terms of Service & Disclaimers by clicking the
link. Please register
to be able to post. By viewing this site you are agreeing to our Terms of Service and Acknowledge our Disclaimers.
FluTrackers.com Inc. does not provide medical advice. Information on this web site is collected from various internet resources, and the FluTrackers board of directors makes no warranty to the safety, efficacy, correctness or completeness of the information posted on this site by any author or poster.
The information collated here is for instructional and/or discussion purposes only and is NOT intended to diagnose or treat any disease, illness, or other medical condition. Every individual reader or poster should seek advice from their personal physician/healthcare practitioner before considering or using any interventions that are discussed on this website.
By continuing to access this website you agree to consult your personal physican before using any interventions posted on this website, and you agree to hold harmless FluTrackers.com Inc., the board of directors, the members, and all authors and posters for any effects from use of any medication, supplement, vitamin or other substance, device, intervention, etc. mentioned in posts on this website, or other internet venues referenced in posts on this website.
We are not asking for any donations. Do not donate to any entity who says they are raising funds for us.
Announcement
Collapse
No announcement yet.
NM - Leak at WIPP Nuclear Waste Storage Site - heavy metal catalyst reaction?
NM - Leak at WIPP Nuclear Waste Storage Site - heavy metal catalyst reaction?
N.M. Nuclear Waste Site Stays Closed After Radiation Leak Plugged
BY HENRY AUSTIN
A radiation leak at a nuclear waste storage site below the New Mexico desert has been plugged, but the facility will remain closed for at least the next three weeks, officials said late Thursday.
Re: New Mexico - Leak at Nuclear Waste Storage Site - site closed for now
I believe WIPP is about 20 miles from Carlsbad, [ETA: Using a point to point mapping tool, WIPP appears to be 36 miles from the boundary of Carlsbad Caverns park, so it is some distance from the town of Carlsbad which is closer to WIPP.], which made me wonder about the karst implications:
New Mexico Geological Society Guidebook, 5th Field Conference
Caves and Karst of Southeastern New Mexico, 2006, p. 233-242. INTRASTRATAL KARST AT THE WIPP SITE, SOUTHEASTERN NEW MEXICO*
CAROL A. HILL
Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, [email in linked article]
ABSTRACT. — The possibility of intrastratal karst at the WIPP site has been evaluated with respect to karst principles and processes and to dissolution/hydrological studies. While little direct evidence exists for intrastratal karst at the WIPP site, many indirect lines of evidence suggest the possible presence of karst: surface topographic depressions, negative gravity anomalies, lack of surface runoff, collapse breccias, insoluble residue horizons, WIPP-33 sinkholes and caves, anomalous drawdowns, and salinity variations within boreholes. Intrastratal karst, if it exists, would bypass slow matrix flow in the Culebra Dolomite aquifer and be subject to fast flow in cave conduits.
SUMMARY
Karst aquifers pose more problems to the hydrologist than any
other because their characteristics are poorly defined and water
flow within them is of a very particular type. With direct observations
limited to caves, boreholes, and recharge and discharge, the
rest of the aquifer characteristics must necessarily be deduced from
indirect evidence. One cannot treat the system as a “black box”
– such treatment can be far removed from physical reality and tell
one little about the structure of the aquifer and how it really operates.
This is especially true for intrastratal (covered) karst.
In the case of the WIPP site, documenting intrastratal karst by
direct evidence is very difficult. The method of recharge is diffuse,
so that dye cannot be easily put into the system in order to
trace water from input to output. The discharge point is unknown,
and possible discharge springs (e.g., Malaga Bend) have not yet
been monitored hydrographically to correlate with rainfall on and
around the WIPP site. And, without the parameters of recharge
and discharge, water balance studies are hypothetical at best.
With deep, phreatic, intrastratal karst such as may possibly exist
at the WIPP site, caves cannot be explored and geophysical techniques
cannot detect caves that deep. Many boreholes have been
drilled at the WIPP site, but even their lack of intersection with
caves is not a guarantee that instrastratal karst is not present.
It should be kept in mind that while well and drawdown tests
have characterized fracture and matrix flow in the Culebra dolomite
aquifer, they have not characterized possible channel network
flow that may be occurring between wells. To quote Palmer
(1995, p. 61): “The laminar flow so commonly detected by well
tests is tributary to conduits that convey water and contaminants
at high velocities to spring outlets. Unless monitor wells happen
to intercept these conduits, contaminants can pass right between
them without the slightest chance of detection.”
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This project was funded by DOE/Sandia Labs under Contract
#BF-4551. Derek Ford and Ken Johnson reviewed the manuscript.
Last edited by Emily; March 5, 2014, 06:20 PM.
Reason: Added ETA
"...there’s an obvious contest that’s happening between different sectors of the colonial ruling class in this country. And they would, if they could, lump us into their beef, their struggle." ---- Omali Yeshitela, African People’s Socialist Party
(My posts are not intended as advice or professional assessments of any kind.) Never forget Excalibur.
New Results Indicate Elevated Levels of Radioactive Concentrations at WIPP Plant in Carlsbad, New Mexico
Posted: Feb 24, 2014 11:24 AM PST Updated: Feb 24, 2014 11:24 AM PST
U.S. Department of Energy Press Release
...
Dose assessment modeling, which calculates potential radioactivity exposure to people, from the release data showed a potential dose of less than one millirem at each of the environmental sampling locations. A person receives about 10 millirems from a single chest x-ray procedure. The average person living in the United States receives an annual dose of about 620 millirem from exposure to naturally occurring and other sources of radiation.
Unclear to me is the time frame to acquire the less than 1 millirem dose: per second, minute, hour, year? (A chest x-ray machine has an off button.)
"...there’s an obvious contest that’s happening between different sectors of the colonial ruling class in this country. And they would, if they could, lump us into their beef, their struggle." ---- Omali Yeshitela, African People’s Socialist Party
(My posts are not intended as advice or professional assessments of any kind.) Never forget Excalibur.
Re: New Mexico - Leak at Nuclear Waste Storage Site - site closed for now
This presentation given at a nuclear waste management symposia in 1998 suggests to me that WIPP is capable of a 'frack-out' event similar to the Bayou Corne cavern blowout.
VERTICALLY-ORIENTED GAS-DRIVEN HYDROFRACTURE AT WIPP
Walter Gerstle, Associate Professor [Contact info at link]
Robert Valerio, Graduate Student [Contact info at link]
Department of Civil Engineering,
University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM 87131
ABSTRACT
Modeling and experiments performed by Sandia National Laboratories show that gas caused by the anoxic corrosion of iron and by biodegradation of organic materials will be generated within the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP). A potential exists for several tens of million cubic meters (at atmospheric pressure and 30oC) of gas to be generated. A review of the WIPP Compliance Certification Application (CCA) calculations and associated literature has revealed inadequate consideration of gas-driven hydrofracture. This paper presents the results of both laboratory modeling and mathematical analysis of gas-driven hydrofracture at WIPP, with emphasis upon the behavior of a vertical hydrofracture. The results show that unless special care is taken to preclude the generation of gas or to properly vent gas, a gas-driven hydrofracture is likely. Our physical modeling reveals the development of both horizontally- and vertically oriented circular hydrofractures, even within a horizontally stratified solid. The behavior of a vertical hydrofracture is considered in this paper. It is shown that a vertical hydrofracture would be incapable of containing the gas volumes predicted. A novel method is proposed for controlling the build-up of waste gas within the repository so that the hypothesized hydrofracture events will be avoided.
"...there’s an obvious contest that’s happening between different sectors of the colonial ruling class in this country. And they would, if they could, lump us into their beef, their struggle." ---- Omali Yeshitela, African People’s Socialist Party
(My posts are not intended as advice or professional assessments of any kind.) Never forget Excalibur.
NWP spokesman Donavan Mager said that "there is no way the radiation could be spread" because workers were only exposed to an internal dose of radiation.
Americium-241 poses a significant risk if ingested (swallowed) or inhaled. It can stay in the body for decades and continue to expose the surrounding tissues to both alpha and gamma radiation, increasing the risk of developing cancer. Americium-241 also poses a cancer risk to all organs of the body from direct external exposure to its gamma radiation. One source of direct exposure would be contaminated soil. Exposure to any significant amount of Am-241 is unlikely under normal circumstances. ("Normal circumstances" do not include trying to access or remove the Am-241 source in a smoke detector!)
Top of page
Is there a medical test to determine exposure to americium-241?
Yes. There are tests that reliably measure the amount of americium in a urine sample, even at very low levels. Using these measurements, scientists can estimate the total amount of Am-241 present in the body. Other tests can measure Am-241 in soft tissues (such as body organs) and in feces, bone, and milk. None of these tests are routinely available in a doctor's office because they require special laboratory equipment.
"...there’s an obvious contest that’s happening between different sectors of the colonial ruling class in this country. And they would, if they could, lump us into their beef, their struggle." ---- Omali Yeshitela, African People’s Socialist Party
(My posts are not intended as advice or professional assessments of any kind.) Never forget Excalibur.
Employees concerned about safety, better environment at WIPP
By Zack Ponce
...
Going forward, the union will ask the DOE and the operating partnership for a more aggressive response to any future radiation leak ? a response that includes mandatory testing of all WIPP personnel on-site the next day, according to Fuentes....
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Sorry folks, we can't get all the answers if I can't ask multiple questions <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23WIPP&src=hash">#WIPP</a></p>— Zack Ponce (@zackponce12) <a href="https://twitter.com/zackponce12/statuses/439164136761860096">February 27, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" lang="en"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/zackponce12">@zackponce12</a> Count yourself lucky, some of us didn't get to ask questions at all...</p>— Geoff Brumfiel (@gbrumfiel) <a href="https://twitter.com/gbrumfiel/statuses/439164296011218944">February 27, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" lang="en"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/gbrumfiel">@gbrumfiel</a> Good point. DOE has become more restrictive with each press conference. That was my 3rd.</p>— Zack Ponce (@zackponce12) <a href="https://twitter.com/zackponce12/statuses/439165969441619968">February 27, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
"...there’s an obvious contest that’s happening between different sectors of the colonial ruling class in this country. And they would, if they could, lump us into their beef, their struggle." ---- Omali Yeshitela, African People’s Socialist Party
(My posts are not intended as advice or professional assessments of any kind.) Never forget Excalibur.
As leak investigation continues, WIPP?s future uncertain
By Katie Kim Updated: Tuesday, March 4, 2014, 10:48 pm Published: Tuesday, March 4, 2014, 10:00 pm
CARLSBAD, N.M. (KRQE) ? A recent string of concerning and potentially dangerous events, the first real blemishes in an otherwise spotless 15 years for the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant, has raised questions about the future direction of one of the country?s largest nuclear waste repositories.
...
?Its mission was start clean, stay clean, not ever have a release. Well, it?s failed in that mission,? said Don Hancock, Director of Nuclear Waste Safety Program and the Southwest Research and Information Center.
Hancock, who opposed WIPP?s initial opening, said talk of an expansion has distracted officials from their current mission.
?There?s a declining safety culture at WIPP. The fire and the radiation release are symptoms of this problem,? Hancock said...
"...there’s an obvious contest that’s happening between different sectors of the colonial ruling class in this country. And they would, if they could, lump us into their beef, their struggle." ---- Omali Yeshitela, African People’s Socialist Party
(My posts are not intended as advice or professional assessments of any kind.) Never forget Excalibur.
Partial Probe Shows No Radiation at New Mexico Nuclear Waste Site
By Bob Brewin
March 10, 2014
...
But the probe did not include the locations most likely to contain radioactive leakage, according to a joint news release from Energy?s Carlsbad, N.M., Field Office and Nuclear Waste Partnership LLC, which operates the waste site...
...
As of Saturday, 17 WIPP employees showed ?background? radiological contamination in fecal samples, but there has been no detectable contamination in urine samples, which indicates contamination was not inhaled into the lungs, Energy and Nuclear Waste Partnership said. ?The levels of exposure are extremely low, and none of the employees is expected to experience any health effects from the exposures,? they said.
Hancock said the statement on exposure is ?a very disturbing part of the release -- because it is false. Urine samples detect SOLUBLE plutonium [emphasis included]. Insoluble plutonium and americium in the lungs would not be detected by urine samples. Fecal samples would detect insoluble plutonium, some of which could remain in the lungs.?...
Don Hancock is director of the Nuclear Waste Safety Program at the Southwest Research and Information Center.
"...there’s an obvious contest that’s happening between different sectors of the colonial ruling class in this country. And they would, if they could, lump us into their beef, their struggle." ---- Omali Yeshitela, African People’s Socialist Party
(My posts are not intended as advice or professional assessments of any kind.) Never forget Excalibur.
@zackponce12 on Twitter
Posted: 03/09/2014 08:18:56 AM MDT
Devon, Occidental Petroleum & Yates Petroleum are operating on federal land as close as within 1.5 miles of WIPP according to the article. There is an excellent graphic showing the facility surrounded by layers of pump jacks.
And to add the the d?j? vu feeling I get after following the Bayou Corne disaster:
Intrepid Potash kicks off solution mining project
From the Current-Argus
Updated: 05/17/2012 08:56:09 PM MDT
By Stella Davis
Current-Argus Staff Writer
CARLSBAD ?
...
Sen. Vernon Asbill, R-Eddy, said the state's budget this year is at $6 billion. He said southeastern New Mexico's potash and oil and gas industries are carrying the state's budget.
"I'm proud to be from southeast New Mexico," Asbill said. "When the solution mining project was put on the table, there was concern by some that the brine ponds will be too close to the WIPP (Waste Isolation Pilot Plant). It was said if the ponds were to spill over it would have an impact on WIPP. But experts said that water can't get through the salt beds in this area. There is no danger to WIPP."...
"...there’s an obvious contest that’s happening between different sectors of the colonial ruling class in this country. And they would, if they could, lump us into their beef, their struggle." ---- Omali Yeshitela, African People’s Socialist Party
(My posts are not intended as advice or professional assessments of any kind.) Never forget Excalibur.
Common potash minerals found in southeastern New Mexico. The potassium in potash minerals and fertilizer is reported as potassium oxide to compare fairly diverse mineralogy and composition. Sylvite and langbeinite are
produced from sylvinite and langbeinite ore, often associated with carnallite
"...there’s an obvious contest that’s happening between different sectors of the colonial ruling class in this country. And they would, if they could, lump us into their beef, their struggle." ---- Omali Yeshitela, African People’s Socialist Party
(My posts are not intended as advice or professional assessments of any kind.) Never forget Excalibur.
DOE: Another radiation release reported at WIPP
From staff reports
Posted: 03/18/2014 04:21:05 PM MDT
CARLSBAD -- An additional release of radiation occurred at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant on March 11, nearly a month after the first radiation leak was reported...
DOE: Increased radiation in Carlsbad not related to WIPP incidents
By Zack Ponce zponce@currentargus.com
@zackponce12 on Twitter
Posted: 03/17/2014 05:30:47 PM MDT
CARLSBAD -- Radiation levels appear to be on the rise in Carlsbad and around the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant...
"...there’s an obvious contest that’s happening between different sectors of the colonial ruling class in this country. And they would, if they could, lump us into their beef, their struggle." ---- Omali Yeshitela, African People’s Socialist Party
(My posts are not intended as advice or professional assessments of any kind.) Never forget Excalibur.
Dept. of Energy says article allegedly causing radiation fears in New Mexico, West Texas is false
Leonard Martinez
POSTED: 03:26 PM MDT Mar 17, 2014 UPDATED: 05:25 PM MDT Mar 18, 2014
EL PASO, Texas -
An online article stating much of New Mexico and parts of West Texas may need to be evacuated due to a radiation leak at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant is false, according to the U.S. Department of Energy which operates WIPP.
...
The article rattling nerves online is posted at PoliticalEars.com and states ?The radiation leak potentially affects 14 million residents in New Mexico, Texas, and Chihuahua (Mexico). If the leak is as bad as some experts speculate, then the effect to the multi-state area could be much like a "dirty bomb", rendering El Paso, Las Cruces, Midland/Odessa, Ciudad Juarez, and other major North American cities inhabitable for decades to come.?...
ETA:
The article being refuted by DOE does not quote a source for the worst case scenario proposed so appears to be the author's opinion. Also 'inhabitable' means livable.
Last edited by Emily; March 19, 2014, 04:54 PM.
Reason: ETA added
"...there’s an obvious contest that’s happening between different sectors of the colonial ruling class in this country. And they would, if they could, lump us into their beef, their struggle." ---- Omali Yeshitela, African People’s Socialist Party
(My posts are not intended as advice or professional assessments of any kind.) Never forget Excalibur.
Re: New Mexico - Leak at Nuclear Waste Storage Site - site closed for now
Zack Ponce has an excellent article about the upcoming plan to re-enter the undergound at WIPP. Workers have been training and testing equipment at a nearby potash mine. They know their entry shaft in the mining portion of WIPP is 'safe', but beyond that, they don't know what they will encounter in terms of radiation and mine stability dangers. One theory about the cause of the radiation release is that there was a roof collapse.
Reaction to WIPP Radiation Leak Incident Heats Up
Groups Claim Conspiracy; Government Says No Need to Worry
Sentinel Staff
Friday, March 21, 2014 8:39 AM
Ever since officials with the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) reported a low-level radiation leak at their rural location in southeastern New Mexico back in mid-February, rumors have been swirling around about radiation reaching West Texas and prompting widespread evacuations...
"...there’s an obvious contest that’s happening between different sectors of the colonial ruling class in this country. And they would, if they could, lump us into their beef, their struggle." ---- Omali Yeshitela, African People’s Socialist Party
(My posts are not intended as advice or professional assessments of any kind.) Never forget Excalibur.
WOOPS WIPP Did it Again
Nuclear Waste Spill Revives Controversy
March 25, 2014, 11:25 pm
By Rene Romo
....
A blogger at pissinontheroses.blogspot.com urged residents to prepare to evacuate at a moment?s notice. The blogger claimed the radiation leak prompted Kirtland Air Force Base, six days after the Feb. 14 incident, to order 1,200 radiation suits. A Kirtland spokesman says the purchase had nothing to do with WIPP, and an executive with the El Paso-based equipment supplier, MRI Company, says the firm had been selling suits to Kirtland for three years...
"...there’s an obvious contest that’s happening between different sectors of the colonial ruling class in this country. And they would, if they could, lump us into their beef, their struggle." ---- Omali Yeshitela, African People’s Socialist Party
(My posts are not intended as advice or professional assessments of any kind.) Never forget Excalibur.
First human team enters underground WIPP site
By Jessica Garate Updated: Thursday, March 27, 2014, 8:34 am Published: Wednesday, March 26, 2014, 10:04 pm
"...there’s an obvious contest that’s happening between different sectors of the colonial ruling class in this country. And they would, if they could, lump us into their beef, their struggle." ---- Omali Yeshitela, African People’s Socialist Party
(My posts are not intended as advice or professional assessments of any kind.) Never forget Excalibur.
Tweet
Comment