Other News - March 2026
Get the facts on the Laboratory’s environmental impact
Written by the Lab's environmental science experts, the 2024 Annual Site Environmental Report is a detailed, public-facing resource that you can share with anyone who has questions about “forever chemicals,” water quality and forest treatments.
One key takeaway is that in 2024, Laboratory air emissions translated to an estimated maximum dose of 0.78 millirem to a hypothetical member of the public, far below the Lab’s 10 millirem limit allowed by the Clean Air Act. For context, background radiation sources in this part of Northern New Mexico, like cosmic rays and naturally occurring uranium in the soil, result in public exposures of about one millirem per day, or 350-400 millirem per year.
For a few of the report’s other highlights, also check out the 13 articles in the ASER Summary, a magazine-style publication that accompanies the full ASER. Articles explore how theLaboratory is managing pressing environmental issues like “forever chemicals,” water quality and forest treatments to prevent large-scale wildfire.
Applications open for RDC small business funding opportunities
Long-term Laboratory partner the nonprofit Regional Development Corporation has announced its 2026 direct investment programs, which support Northern New Mexico businesses in their growth or diversification. Applications are currently open for three types of financial assistance:
1) A new round of micro-grants funded by the Santa Fe County Economic Development Department for businesses in Santa Fe County outside of the City of Santa Fe. The application deadline is April 1. (A future round of micro-grants funded by Laboratory operator Triad will open in June 2026 open to businesses in all seven counties in the region.)
2) The Technology & Manufacturing (TEAM) Fund (also funded by Triad) offers no-interest loans to growth-oriented manufacturing and technology-based companies. The application deadline is April 10.
3) The RDC Tribal Grant Fund awards businesses owned by a federally recognized Indian tribe or by an enrolled member(s) of a federally recognized Indian tribe for critical technical services and equipment. The application deadline for these Triad-supported grants is April 10.
Laboratory supports Governor’s STEM Challenge
The seventh annual New Mexico Governor’s STEM Challenge took place Feb. 7 at New Mexico Highlands University, with support from Laboratory volunteer judges and sponsorship from Laboratory operator Triad. The statewide competition, organized by the New Mexico STEM Innovation Network and the LANL Foundation, encourages high school student teams to design STEM-based solutions to real-world challenges facing New Mexico. This year’s theme looked at how STEM can help communities respond to natural disasters.
More than 300 students from 32 schools took part, with Triad sponsoring the STEM Excellence Award that went to the team from Alta Vista Early College High School in Gadsden. Northern New Mexico schools also showed their talents, with Española High School, The Master’s Program (Santa Fe), and Taos Integrated School for the Arts all receiving awards.
