Laboratory issues statement on State Environment Department order for corrective action

Contact: Linn Tytler, linn_tytler@lanl.gov, (505) 667-1455 (02-045)

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LOS ALAMOS, N.M., May 1, 2002 -- The Los Alamos National Laboratory today received a fact sheet associated with expected issuance of a draft order from the New Mexico Environment Department pursuant to the New Mexico Hazardous Waste Act. According to this fact sheet, the Department is asserting that past or present operations at the Laboratory"…may result in an imminent and substantial endangerment to human health and the environment."

"We have information from the Laboratory's monitoring and surveillance program, extensive investigations completed from its Environmental Restoration program, and the performance assessment of operations at the Laboratory's waste handling and disposal site. Those data demonstrate that risks to the public and the environment from past and current operations are minimal," said Beverly Ramsey, Risk Reduction and Environmental Stewardship (RRES) acting Division leader. "The Laboratory remains committed to ensuring the health and safety of our employees and the public, minimizing the impact of Laboratory operations on the environment, and providing responsible stewardship of the Pajarito Plateau," she said.

"Despite our basic disagreement with the Department's premise, we pledge to continue to work in partnership with NMED in responding to its issues," Ramsey continued. "We have met with Department staff frequently to discuss issues anticipated to be identified in the draft corrective action order and continue to improve the Laboratory's risk reduction and environmental stewardship program.

"We are mindful of the concerns of both our neighbors and regulatory officials regarding the safety of the materials and activities at the Laboratory's waste handling and disposal site," Ramsey said. The Laboratory's activities, including waste treatment, storage, handling and disposal are conducted in compliance with the appropriate federal and state regulations. The Department of Energy regulates disposal of low-level radioactive waste at the Laboratory, the only disposal operation it conducts.

"We will have additional comment once the order is released and we are able to digest its content," Ramsey concluded.

Los Alamos has published a fact sheet for Laboratory workers and members of the community that takes a snapshot of Los Alamos' long commitment to the environment. The fact sheet highlights the years between 1989 and 2000 and traces a number of environmental initiatives and the nearly $1 billion spent by the Laboratory during this time period. The Los Alamos fact sheet is available at http://www.lanl.gov/worldview/news/pdf/EnvirCommit.pdf online.

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 and its mission.

Los Alamos enhances global security by ensuring the safety and reliability of the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile, developing technical solutions to reduce the threat of 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