WIPP is still up and operating. It was down the between 2014 and 2017 due to both an underground equipment fire and an accidental release of radioactivity from a storage barrel. Both incidents were compounded by ventilation problems.
It wouldn’t surprise me especially dealing with nearby caverns. I think when he was hired in about 1989 or so Westinghouse was the main contractor then another one took over. I’m pretty certain it was Westinghouse. He spent his earlier years as an engineer at TVA for about 18 years. Carvin Marvin aka Marvin Runion laid off a bunch at TVA and he was one it hit. That’s why he went to Carlsbad.