WIPP's Radiation Detection Equipment Was Overwhelmed By Explosive Plutonium Release
The net conclusion being that their system wasn't designed to accurately determine 'release', but mine concentrations. Read for yourself above.
The Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board has released a report on the 2 February WIPP 'events'.
http://krqe.com/2014/03/25/safety-board-calls-wipp-incidents-near-misses/
Here's a direct link to download the 'letter':
http://www.dnfsb.gov/sites/default/files/Board%20Activities/Letters/2014/ltr_2014321_23931.pdf
From there:
As result of its initial assessment, the Board wrote to the Secretary of Energy on March 12, 2014, pointing out that the ventilation system is not a designated safety system and has not been operated, maintained, and protected consistent with its current function to guard against further release of radioactive material from the mine.and
For example, neither the filtered ventilation system nor the underground air monitor that triggered the ventilation system to switch to filtered mode is a credited safety system. In fact, for six days after the fire, no underground air monitors were operational. Had there been a failure on February 14 of the air monitor or filtered ventilation system, or if the release event had occurred three days earlier, the release of radioactive material from the aboveground mine exhaust would have been orders of magnitude larger. Until the cause of the radiation release is fully understood, these systems represent a real vulnerability to continued operations in the underground. DOE will need to upgrade the safety basis, engineered safety systems, and key safety management programs to support future waste disposal operations at WJPP. In accordance with DOE's safety directives, a formal Operational Readiness Review will also be required before waste disposal resumes.Wow. The statement, "improve the performance and reliability of the filtered ventilation system" has broad implications for local residents. DOE/WIPP contractor has repeatedly stated it's operating at 99.9% efficiency and that they've 'sealed other potential release areas with foam' (/s)...To ensure that the ongoing recovery actions proceed safely, DOE and the WIPP contractor need to continue key, conservative actions that reduce the likelihood and mitigate the potential consequences of another event. These actions include the ongoing efforts to improve the performance and reliability of the filtered ventilation system; execution of the Unreviewed Safety Question process in accordance with 10 CFR Part 830, Nuclear Safety Management, to understand the safety basis implications of the radiological event, including conservative identification of compensatory measures; interim improvements in WIPP's emergency management capabilities for a subsequent event; enhanced oversight by DOE headquarters personnel; and near-tenn action to address the Judgments of Need identified by DOE's Accident Investigation Board.
"Judgments of Need". Hmmm...first time I've seen that referenced anywhere. Maybe when I have more time I can track that down. As a footnote here, Carlsbad Mayor Dale Janway and the Department of Energy will co-host a meeting with updates on WIPP recovery every Thursday beginning March 27th.
What that means for new info, who knows; but there will be a weekly cycle for what they 'want' to release now until the 'event' is over (obviously it's not, or there wouldn't be a weekly meeting, now would there?).