Washington, D.C. (September 15, 2017) Congressman Steve Pearce released the following statement after the Department of Energy (DOE)announced a three-year extension to the AECOM Management and Operations Contract for the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) in Carlsbad, NM:

"WIPP is a major contributor to the Carlsbad economy and plays a critical role in our nation's security. The site's success does not come from the company who manages, but rather the community that supports it, and the dedicated employees who work daily to make this one-of-a-kind facility successful. AECOM's management has not come without its challenges, however, in recent years they have taken a number of steps to instill a management and operations style that has allowed WIPP to recover quickly and most importantly safely.

With this extension, WIPP will be able to continue to move towards full operations, and work to complete the new exhaust shaft without the potential delays and uncertainty that comes with the contract bidding process. It is crucial to WIPP and our national security that these improvements are made without delay. I expect AECOM to continue to work on its communication and management with the site, the community, and elected officials. Now is not the time to become complacent or fall into old habits," stated Rep. Pearce.

On April 20, 2012, the Nuclear Waste Partnership LLC, an AECOM-led entity, was awarded the Management and Operations Contract. This contract is scheduled to expire ‪on September 30, 2017. The DOE has extended NWP's contract ‪until September 30, 2020 with the option to extend another 2 years after that.