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Feds Not Surprised By Nuclear Fines

energy.gov

The Department of Energy wasn’t surprised when they were hit with tens of millions of dollars in fines by the state environment department for mishandling of nuclear waste.

A spokesperson for the federal agency said they self-disclosed that both Los Alamos National Laboratory and the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant were in violation of their hazardous waste permits.

Back in February a container of nuclear waste from LANL that was being stored at WIPP ruptured and at least 20 workers were exposed to radiation.

The plant shut-down and will not be fully operational again for years.

The New Mexico Environment Department investigated for nine months and over the weekend Secretary Ryan Flynn issued compliance orders to the facilities along with $54 million in penalties.

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