Underground air sampling results show an increased level of radiation at one station in the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant following a fire that shut down the plant last year.
The Carlsbad Current-Argus reports that radiation measurements taken in late April at WIPP's Station A were high, but similar samplings at Station B were normal -- meaning that a particulate air filter between the two stations is capturing the radiation.
Carlsbad Environmental Monitoring and Research Center Director Russell Hardy says workers are conducting decontamination activities in Station A's Panel 7, where a fire and radiological release occurred last year.
He says the higher readings come from workers kicking up dust.
The WIPP website says the samples are not representative of the air breathed in by the public or workers.
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Information from: Carlsbad Current-Argus, http://www.currentargus.com/
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