CARLSBAD, N.M. (AP) — Officials are seeking permit changes to allow more nuclear waste to be stored in an underground facility in southeastern New Mexico.
The Carlsbad Current-Argus reports Waste Isolation Pilot Plant officials are looking to redefine how the volume of the waste is calculated at the facility near Carlsbad.
The facility is about halfway to capacity under the current calculations, which take into account the air between the waste containers for the total volume.
The drums of waste are packed into another case to protect against spills.
Officials are seeking to change the volume calculations to be based on the inner containers, which they say is a more accurate measurement.
Officials say the facility is about a third full under the new volume calculations.
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Information from: Carlsbad Current-Argus, http://www.currentargus.com/