Open Detonations at LANL
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Waste high explosives are detonated in one of two remote locations.
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High explosives can be granules or plastic-like chunks and pieces in various shapes and sizes.
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To dispose of the waste high explosives, the pieces are packed in batches that average about 60 pounds.
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Booster explosives are applied to the waste by trained technicians.
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Technicians enact numerous safety procedures before the waste can be detonated.
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The explosion throws dust into the air, but emissions are not detectable outside of Lab property.
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The explosions completely consume the material, leaving no hazardous materials behind.
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As a precaution, the Lab carefully monitors stormwater near the detonation sites.
Treating Waste High Explosives Safely
As a national security laboratory, some of LANL’s missions involve high explosives. As a good steward of the environment, the Lab wants to treat waste high explosives in the safest and most environmentally sound manner possible.
In the past, LANL has detonated small amounts of the waste from high explosive tests in remote areas of Lab property. Detonation reduces explosives to their basic, non-hazardous components of carbon dioxide, nitrogen and water, and extensive testing has proven there are no adverse effects to air, water or wildlife. Detonating the waste from high explosives on remote Lab property is safer and more efficient than transporting it elsewhere by truck where it will be disposed of in a similar manner.
The Lab has a permit with the New Mexico Environment Department to store or treat hazardous waste at 26 LANL sites. The Lab wants to modify the permit to include two additional sites that are currently under ‘interim’ status.
Please take a few minutes to browse through the information about the treatment of waste high explosives.
- View the Permit Modification Request
- Open Detonation Fact sheet (pdf)
- Public Meeting Notes, August 16, 2011
- Public Information Meeting Notes, May 18, 2011
Have a comment?
As part of the Lab’s request to modify the permit, the New Mexico Environment Department is accepting comments from the public from July 21 through September 19, 2011.
Please feel free to use our online form to submit a comment.
Written or verbal comments can also be sent to:
- Mr. John E. Kieling, Program Manager
New Mexico Environment Department
Hazardous Waste Bureau
2905 Rodeo Park Drive East, Building 1
Santa Fe, NM 87505 - Email: john.kieling@state.nm.us
- Phone: 505-476-6000
- Fax: 505 476-6030
Thanks for your interest and please email envoutreach@lanl.gov if you have questions.
