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| US nuclear site fire 'was preventable | US nuclear site fire 'was preventable |
| (31 minutes later) | |
| Maintenance and safety lapses were at the root of a lorry fire that shut down the only US underground nuclear waste repository in February, a report says. | |
| The report also cited problems with emergency response and oversight at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP), outside Carlsbad, New Mexico. | The report also cited problems with emergency response and oversight at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP), outside Carlsbad, New Mexico. |
| The state's two senators called the findings "deeply concerning". | The state's two senators called the findings "deeply concerning". |
| WIPP, which holds specific kinds of defence nuclear waste, remains closed after a radiation leak last month. | WIPP, which holds specific kinds of defence nuclear waste, remains closed after a radiation leak last month. |
| It is still unclear if the fire and the leak, which contaminated 17 workers, are related. A separate report on the leak is expected in the upcoming weeks. | It is still unclear if the fire and the leak, which contaminated 17 workers, are related. A separate report on the leak is expected in the upcoming weeks. |
| The accidents are the first major incidents at the repository, which began taking radioactive waste from US defence sites 15 years ago. | The accidents are the first major incidents at the repository, which began taking radioactive waste from US defence sites 15 years ago. |
| 'Nuclear versus mine' | 'Nuclear versus mine' |
| In a report released on Friday, the energy department's Accident Investigation Board (AIB) found the 5 February fire was preventable. | In a report released on Friday, the energy department's Accident Investigation Board (AIB) found the 5 February fire was preventable. |
| The root cause, the board wrote, was the failure of the current and previous contractors running the site to "adequately recognise and mitigate the hazard regarding a fire in the underground". | The root cause, the board wrote, was the failure of the current and previous contractors running the site to "adequately recognise and mitigate the hazard regarding a fire in the underground". |
| Lorries carrying salt were not maintained or cleaned often enough to prevent the build-up of combustible materials and the onboard automatic fire suppression system had been deactivated. | Lorries carrying salt were not maintained or cleaned often enough to prevent the build-up of combustible materials and the onboard automatic fire suppression system had been deactivated. |
| "A nuclear versus mine culture exists where there are significant differences in the maintenance of waste-handling versus non-waste-handling equipment," the report said. | "A nuclear versus mine culture exists where there are significant differences in the maintenance of waste-handling versus non-waste-handling equipment," the report said. |
| At a community meeting in Carlsbad on Thursday to preview the report, the lead investigator, Ted Wyka, praised the 86 workers were half-mile underground in the mine when the fire started, saying they "did everything they could" to tell others to evacuate. | At a community meeting in Carlsbad on Thursday to preview the report, the lead investigator, Ted Wyka, praised the 86 workers were half-mile underground in the mine when the fire started, saying they "did everything they could" to tell others to evacuate. |
| But a number of safety systems and processes failed, Mr Wyka said. Emergency strobe lights were not activated for five minutes and not all workers heard the evacuation announcement. | But a number of safety systems and processes failed, Mr Wyka said. Emergency strobe lights were not activated for five minutes and not all workers heard the evacuation announcement. |
| One worker also switched the air system from normal to filtration made, which sent smoke billowing through the tunnels. | One worker also switched the air system from normal to filtration made, which sent smoke billowing through the tunnels. |
| Six workers were treated for smoke inhalation after the fire. | Six workers were treated for smoke inhalation after the fire. |
| Jose Franco, who runs the energy department's field office in Carlsbad, choked up as he addressed the meeting, saying that at first, he took the findings personally. | Jose Franco, who runs the energy department's field office in Carlsbad, choked up as he addressed the meeting, saying that at first, he took the findings personally. |
| "But I think what's important [is] we definitely got away with not ... having anyone seriously hurt," Mr Franco said. "So we need to learn from that. It is what I wanted to hear, and I wanted the truth. We don't need any sugar-coating." | "But I think what's important [is] we definitely got away with not ... having anyone seriously hurt," Mr Franco said. "So we need to learn from that. It is what I wanted to hear, and I wanted the truth. We don't need any sugar-coating." |
| Hours before, the current contractor at the site demoted the facility's president and project manager. | Hours before, the current contractor at the site demoted the facility's president and project manager. |
| While the report cited the site's contractor and the field office for gaps in oversight, it also recommended the agency headquarters needed to "re-evaluate resources" applied to WIPP. | While the report cited the site's contractor and the field office for gaps in oversight, it also recommended the agency headquarters needed to "re-evaluate resources" applied to WIPP. |
| In February, Eddy County Commissioner Susan Crockett told the BBC there had been "a lag in funding for maintenance at WIPP". | In February, Eddy County Commissioner Susan Crockett told the BBC there had been "a lag in funding for maintenance at WIPP". |
| "We've been asking for $10m for the last three years just for maintenance," she said. | "We've been asking for $10m for the last three years just for maintenance," she said. |
| Testing of the underground site has continued since the leak and workers are expected to re-enter the site as early as this weekend. | Testing of the underground site has continued since the leak and workers are expected to re-enter the site as early as this weekend. |