"The U.S. Energy Department expects to resume operations at its shuttered nuclear waste dump in New Mexico by early 2016, about two years after two serious accidents released radioactive materials and soot throughout the 2,150-foot-deep repository.

The cost of the accidents will approach $1 billion, based on estimates contained in a 32-page plan from the department released this week.

Repairs to equipment and the establishment of new procedures will cost about $242 million, the department said. Restoring full operations will cost $309 million more."

Ralph Vartabedian reports for the Los Angeles Times October 2, 2014. [2]