Laboratory discloses diesel discrepancy

Contact: James E. Rickman, jamesr@lanl.gov, (505) 665-9203 (02-018)

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LOS ALAMOS, N.M., Feb. 27, 2002 -- Officials at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Los Alamos National Laboratory today formally notified New Mexico environmental officials of an inventory discrepancy for a fuel tank located on Laboratory property.

The aboveground tank is located at Technical Area 21, at the northeastern boundary of the Laboratory. It holds diesel fuel that can be used to power a TA-21 steam plant in the event of a loss of conventional power to the plant. Up to 48,000 gallons of diesel fuel could have been in the tank, which now is virtually empty.

Laboratory officials have begun an investigation into the fuel tank discrepancy and will work closely with officials from DOE, the New Mexico Environment Department and the Environmental Protection Agency to keep them apprised of the situation.

Laboratory personnel recently confirmed the possibility of a fuel leak and today reported their findings in writing to officials with NMED and EPA in accordance with regulatory procedures. Those agencies last week had received informal verbal notification of the issue.

Laboratory Facilities and Waste Operations Division officials have identified an underground pipe that carries fuel from the tank to the steam plant as a potential leak. The pipe did not maintain pressure when Laboratory subcontractors tested it, indicating the possibility of a leak.

The tank was found to be nearly empty, although records indicate that it likely should have been full. Consequently, crews began searching for evidence of a leak, and a soil core showed minimal evidence of diesel fuel contamination.

Laboratory personnel continue to excavate the tank area to look for more conclusive evidence of diesel fuel in the soil and will continue to research records to determine whether fuel had been removed from the tank for use at other Laboratory facilities. Personnel have not ruled out the possibility of theft.

TA-21 is the site of many former Laboratory operations dating back to the Cold War, but relatively few employees work there now. The Laboratory’s Environmental Restoration Project have characterized most of TA-21, and a large number of buildings and facilities associated with former Laboratory operations have been demolished and removed. The technical area is located at the end of DP Road in the Los Alamos townsite area and is among the parcels of land intended for eventual transfer to Los Alamos County.

Los Alamos National Laboratory is operated by the University of California for the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) of the U.S. Department of Energy and works in partnership with NNSA's Sandia and Lawrence Livermore national laboratories to support NNSA in its mission.

Los Alamos enhances global security by ensuring the safety and reliability of the U.S. nuclear stockpile, developing technologies to reduce threats from weapons of mass destruction, and solving problems related to energy, environment, infrastructure, health and national security concerns.

Additional news releases from the Facility and Waste Operations (FWO) Division