Udall, Heinrich, Energy Secretary to Attend WIPP Town Hall, Tour WIPP Surface Site
CARLSBAD, N.M. - On Monday, August 11, and Tuesday, August 12, U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich will join U.S. Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz in a visit to Carlsbad, N.M., to discuss recovery efforts at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP).
On Monday evening, Udall, Heinrich and Moniz will attend a town hall meeting in Carlsbad to discuss recovery efforts and address questions and concerns from community members and leaders stemming from the truck fire and subsequent radiation release at WIPP.
On Tuesday, Udall, Heinrich and Moniz will meet with Department of Energy (DOE) Carlsbad Field Office representatives and WIPP contractors and take a surface tour of the WIPP site. Topics covered during their meeting will include future funding for recovery and DOE's plans for returning WIPP to full operation.
In June, Udall, Heinrich and Representative Steve Pearce invited Moniz to visit Carlsbad to observe the recovery process firsthand, and speak with local officials and community members about WIPP's importance to the community and our national defense.
WIPP has been closed since a Feb. 5 truck fire, which was followed on Feb. 14 by a radiation release that is still under investigation.
Media are invited to cover portions of the event. Please see below for details, and RSVP to Tim Runyon: Tim.Runyon@cbfo.doe.gov or (575)361-3509.
Monday, August 11, 2014
WHAT: Udall, Heinrich and Moniz attend a WIPP town hall meeting with community members and leaders. Media are invited to attend.
TIME: 6:15 p.m. MT or streaming live at http://new.livestream.com/rrv/.
WHERE: Leo Sweet Community Center
1302 Mission Ave.
Carlsbad, NM
Tuesday, August 12, 2014
WHAT: Udall, Heinrich and Moniz meet with DOE Carlsbad Field Office representatives and WIPP contractors and take a surface tour of the WIPP site. The meeting and tour are closed to media, but there will be media availability following the tour.
TIME: Media availability at 11 a.m. MT
WHERE: WIPP Parking Lot [MAP]
