A rock collapse in a portion of the plant’s underground mine where nuclear waste is permanently emplaced is expected in four to six weeks.

The collapse is expected in Room 6 of Panel 7 in the underground, which was off limits to workers for at almost a year before a Thursday announcement by the U.S. Department of Energy of a potential collapse.

Since it was sealed, no ground control measures took place in Room 6………

Rick Fuentes, president of the United Steelworkers Union Local 12-9477, which represents WIPP waste handlers, said the mine is safe for now.

But Fuentes worried that the underground can be unpredictable, and a collapse could occur sooner than expected.

“We’re not going to take any chances,” Fuentes said. “The underground is unpredictable. It could move faster.”……..

“When you deal with mother nature, it’s hard to know what will happen,” Fuentes said. “Day in and day out we have to stay on our A-game to ensure workers are safe.”

When measurements show the ground is unstable or if stability deteriorates at a dangerous rate, Fuentes said all underground activity will cease until conditions become safe.

“Once we get word that it’s getting close, our plans are to take a safety pause,” he said. “There’s no sense in having anyone down there if it’s going to fall in. We’re not going to put our workers in harm’s way. If that means we have to stop and back up and re-group, then that’s what we’re going to do.” http://www.currentargus.com/story/news/local/2017/09/29/predicted-collapse-reignites-worker-safety-concerns-wipp/717955001/