Roswell Daily Record THE VOICE OF THE PECOS VALLEY
Vol. 123, No. 65 75¢ Daily / $1.25 Sunday
March 15, 2014
www.rdrnews.com
SATURDAY
Report cites ‘lack of rigor’ in WIPP safety protocols RANDAL SEYLER RECORD STAFF WRITER
A report released Friday by the U.S. Department of Energy states a “lack of rigor” in safety training, emergency response and a lack of oversight contributed to the Feb. 5 truck fire at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant near Carlsbad — the first of two back-toback accidents that included a Feb. 14 radiation leak that affected 17 employees and shut the facility down. New Mexico Sens. Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich called the report “deeply concerning.” “Fortunately, no one was hurt,” the Democrats said
in a joint statement. “The community of Carlsbad and the nation expect WIPP to operate with the highest level of safety. The board has identified a number of serious safety concer ns that will need to be fully addressed. We believe all levels of management at the Department of Energy and at WIPP must take the recommendations from the board very seriously and fully implement them. “
The truck blaze apparently was ignited by a buildup of oil and other combustible materials that should have been regularly cleaned of f the vehicle, according to the report. The truck also was operating
without an automatic fire suppression system, the Department of Energy report said.
“The preventative and corrective maintenance program did not prevent or correct the buildup of combustible fluids on the salt truck. There is a distinct difference between the way waste-handling and nonwaste-handling vehicles are maintained,” the 187-page DOE report states.
Rep. Steve Pearce, a Republican whose district includes the plant, applauded the DOE for a transparent report that highlights “the sloppy procedures that caused the fire.”
One of several mistakes made in the chaotic moments that followed switched the filtration systems in the mine a halfmile underground and sent smoke billowing into areas where workers expected to have “good air.”
The report also identified problems with safety culture at the repository and it said a series of repeat deficiencies identified by an independent oversight board had gone unresolved.
According to the report, the training and qualification of the operator was inadequate to ensure proper response to a vehicle See WIPP, Page A3
Congratulations!
Mark Wilson Photo
International Law Enforcement Academy delegates from Moldova receive their diplomas during graduation ceremonies for police personnel from Albania, Moldova and Romania, Friday morning.
Despite the rocky start, Obama says health care program stable
WASHINGTON (AP) — Despite a disastrous start and relentless Republican opposition, Pr esident Barack Obama said Friday that enrollment in his signature health care program is high enough to make it stable for the millions who have signed up. “We look forward to seeing more and more people take advantage as some of the politics of the thing get drained away, as people start feeling more confident about the website,” the president told WebMD in his latest, less-thanconventional attempt to spread the gospel about the law known by his name. The president’s remarks
wer e made public as House Republicans held the 51st vote in 38 months to r epeal or under mine the law, and the first since they won a fiercely contested election for a House seat in Florida this week in a race that featured health care as an issue. The measure calls for a delay in imposing penalties on individuals who fail to pur chase health care under the law. The vote was 238-181, with all Republicans in favor and all but a dozen Democrats opposed. The bill faces certain death in the Democratic-controlled Senate. In addition to attacking the president’s health care
Mary Helen Fimbris receives treatment after the gurney she was on fell over on Thursday in Roswell. She was taken back to the hospital for evaluation, according to Superior Ambulance Services, before being returned home.
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Specially-trained workers make unmanned tests inside a nuclear waste dump in Carlsbad on March 7.
Obama promises to review deportations
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama’s new promise to seek ways to ease his administration’s rate of deportations aims to mollify angry immigrant advocates but carries risks for a White House that has insisted it has little recourse. In asking Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson to review enforcement practices, Obama could undo already fragile congressional ef forts to overhaul immigration laws. And he still could fall short of satisfying the demands of pro-immigrant groups that have been increasing pressure on him to dramatically reverse the administration’s record of deportations. The White House announced Thursday that Obama had directed Johnson, who was swor n in
three months ago, to see how the department “can conduct enforcement more humanely within the confines of the law.” Then the president summoned 17 labor and immigration leaders to the White House Friday afternoon for what some participants described as a spirited discussion of his deportations policies and the strategy for enacting a comprehensive congressional overhaul of immigration laws.
“The president displayed a great deal of sympathy for the families affected by the deportation machinery,” Frank Sharry, executive director of America’s Voice, said after the nearly twohour session. “There was less agreement on when and what should be done about it by the president.” See OBAMA, Page A3
State champions
law, the legislation would overhaul the system for paying doctors and others who tr eat Medicar e patients. By itself, the makeover in the payment system enjoys widespread support among lawmakers in both parties as well as fr om medical organizations. It is designed to end a cycle of uncertainty that has periodically threatened pr oviders with abrupt cuts in their reimbursements. Without action by Congr ess, for example, the fees paid to health professionals who treat Medicare patients are scheduled to dr op by 24 per cent on March 31.
Lawrence Foster Photo
Members of the Hondo Valley boys basketball team celebrate following the Eagles' win over Quemado in the NMAA Class B State Championship Game on Friday at The Pit. For full coverage, see Page B1.
Woman injured when gurney tips over
RANDAL SEYLER RECORD STAFF WRITER
Courtesy Photo
AP Photo
A pair of Superior Ambulance Service employees are on suspension after dropping their elderly Roswell patient into the street in front of her stricken family on Thursday, according to the ambulance company CEO. Luis Hinojosa, of Roswell, said that two Superior Ambulance Serv-
THERE
ice employees were unloading his grandmother, Mary Helen Fimbris, at her home when the gurney on which she was being carried tipped over. “We all saw it happen, there were a bunch of us there in the street when she fell,” Hinojosa said. The ambulance was providing transportation from a local hospital to Fimbris’ home when the accident happened. “That crew has been
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suspended pending an investigation, which is normal procedure for us,” said Chris Archuleta, CEO and executive director of Superior Ambulance Service, which is headquartered in Albuquerque. Whenever an incident occurs, Superior Ambulance Services requires drug and alcohol testing of the employees involved and then suspend the employees pending investigation, Archuleta said.
CLASSIFIEDS ..........B6 COMICS .................B5 ENTERTAINMENT .....A8 FINANCIAL ..............B3
“We have to investigate the incident to insure no malfunction of the gurney occurred,” Archuleta said. “Usually, when we see a fall, it is either equipment failure or human error, it goes about 50-50.” Archuleta said the gurney accident was an unfortunate incident, and that the company will be looking into what hap-
INDEX GENERAL ...............A2 HOROSCOPES .........A8 LOTTERIES .............A2 OPINION .................A4
See TIP, Page A3
SPORTS .................B1
WEATHER ..............A8 WORLD ..................B4