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The development of nuclear energy has diversified the channels the human beings to peacefully used its power. But it remains a challenge to keep nuclear waste in a safe place. The U.S. federal government has set up a waste repository in New Mexico.

Sparsely-populated land near Carlsbad in New Mexico. The Waste Isolation Pilot Plant here is the only one of its kind in the United States. Six hundred meters underground lies more than 90,000 cubic meters of nuclear waste. The first batch was stored here in 1999, inside a special vessel, valuing U.S.$1 million.

This plant now only receives nuclear waste from the U.S. military, instead of the over a hundred civil nuclear power plants across the country. Many of them chose to put the waste inside the power plants.

In February, 2014, radiation leakage occurred at this plant. As a result, 22 workers got affected. The negligence of work made the plant closed by the U.S. government.

The nuclear waste repository is resuming work after a month long safety pause. Now, crews are working to install a temporary ventilation system and complete other recovery efforts. The plant is expected to resume operations by the end of the year.