Environmental Monitoring, Independent Research, Technical Analysis

Provides technical and financial assistance to State of New Mexico Environment Department and the Regents of New Mexico State University/Carlsbad Environmental Monitoring and Research Center (NMSU/CEMRC) for the conduct of projects/activities to support DOE's and the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) mission and to provide the public assurances that implemented DOE programs are protective of human health and the environment. The purpose of the WIPP Environmental Monitoring Project is to establish and maintain independent environmental research and monitoring in the vicinity of the WIPP and to make the results easily accessible to all interested parties. This project began implementation during the WIPP pre-disposal phase, and is continuing during the operational (disposal) phase. The environmental monitoring projects are organized and carried out independent of direct oversight by Department Of Energy (DOE). Analytical results and interpretations from the monitoring are published by NMSU/CEMRC to inform the public and particularly the environmental science community. The State of New Mexico holds the permit for disposal of Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) waste at WIPP and the independent monitoring provides assurance to the State that WIPP is operating in accordance with its RCRA Permit.