[en] The Waste Isolation Pilot Plant is a research and development facility that includes a phased program of site characterization, in-situ tests, and operations demonstrations. It addresses all the technical issues associated with transuranic and defense high-level wastes from US defense programs. Underground construction is in progress, and data collection from experiments without radioactivity will begin in 1983. Radioactive experiments can be performed in the late 1980's, thus providing a comprehensive technical basis for the disposal of defense wastes in bedded salt