NNSA to analyze environmental impact of Chemical and Metallurgy Research Replacement Project

October 7, 2010—The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) has published a notice of intent in the Federal Register detailing its decision to prepare a supplemental environmental impact statement for construction and operation of the Laboratory's Chemical and Metallurgy Research Replacement facility.

According to a recent NNSA news release, "the project, highlighted in the Nuclear Posture Review and the President’s FY2011 budget proposal as an integral requirement for the nation’s nuclear security enterprise, would consolidate and relocate existing capabilities at LANL to ensure that NNSA can maintain the safety, security and effectiveness of the stockpile. The new facility also will benefit NNSA’s other missions, including nonproliferation, primary physics, basic science, medical isotopes, and technology development for waste treatment and minimization."

The original environmental impact study was conducted in 2003, and since that time, NNSA and LANL have incorporated additional safety measures into plans for the project.

The SEIS process, which is open to the public, involves a 30-day comment period (ending November 1) and two public scoping meetings. The first meeting will be held on October 19 at the White Rock Town Hall, 139 Longview Drive. The second hearing is October 20 at the Cities of Gold Casino Hotel in Pojoaque. Both meetings will begin at 4 p.m. and end at 7 p.m. Read the SEIS notice of intent.