Albuquerque Journal, Associated Press

Federal managers working to reopen a nuclear waste repository in southern New Mexico have faced several setbacks in trying to increase air flow at the underground facility.

The Albuquerque Journal reports the Nuclear Waste Partnership has planned to improve air flow at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant with an interim ventilation system and a supplemental system since the plant closed following a radiation release in February 2014.

But a November federal status report found that the partially installed supplemental system could prove problematic when it comes to emergency access. The interim ventilation system, expected to be operating next year, is months behind schedule after its components were damaged.

Operations at the plant won't resume until air flow has improved to allow for more workers to be underground.

Source: http://kunm.org/