Navigating the vast abandoned mining complexes in Starfield often leads players to locked doors that require specific keycards to open. One such location is the Drill Waste Room, situated deep within the mines on Mars. Finding the key to this area is essential for players following the United Colonies faction storyline.
How to Obtain the Drill Waste Room Access Key
The Drill Waste Room Access Key cannot be found as random loot on the floor or picked from standard containers. Instead, it is given to you directly by Lou Saavedra, the bartender located at The Sixth Circle bar in Cydonia. You will receive this key as part of the Delivering Devils quest line after taking care of Dr. Percival Walker's outstanding debt.
Players can handle Percival's debt in a few different ways, including paying the full amount directly or altering the record on the Trade Authority computer to lower the price. Once the debt is cleared, speaking with Lou will prompt him to hand over the key so you can proceed deeper into the facility.
Locating and Using the Access Key in the Mines
Once you have acquired the passkey from Lou, head into the Abandoned Mines near Cydonia to locate the entrance. Navigate through the initial tunnels until you reach the laboratory area containing the sample thresher. From this room, follow the right-hand passageway to find the sealed door leading to the Drill Waste Room.
Using the key opens up a pathway across a series of subterranean catwalks and large caverns. This route is necessary to reach Percival's hidden microbiological laboratory deeper within the mountain. Keeping a boost pack handy makes traversing the large chasm past the drill waste section much faster.
Why You Cannot Bypass the Locked Door
Unlike many standard doors in Bethesda games, the Drill Waste Room door cannot be opened using digipicks regardless of your lockpicking skill level. The game specifically flags this door as requiring a keycard to maintain quest progression.
If you encounter the locked door before starting the Delivering Devils questline, you will simply need to return later after advancing the UC Vanguard story. Once the proper quest steps are triggered, returning to Mars with the keycard will grant permanent access to the deeper sections of the mine.
