Keeping Los Alamos safe, secure, and environmentally responsible
The Laboratory follows compliance regulations to ensure that its environment is safe for the people, animals, and plants that reside there.
An Environmental Management System (EMS) is a set of environmental action plans put forth by different teams within the Laboratory to ensure all work done at Los Alamos is performed in an environmentally responsible manner. These action plans are updated annually and focus on reducing environmental impacts while increasing an organization’s operating efficiency. Air quality, surface and storm water, and biological hazards are some of the aspects considered when creating and updating these plans. More than 400 actions in 15 different action plans were tracked in 2015 alone.
Site Sustainability
The Laboratory’s responsibility is to protect its surrounding natural environment through conservation and sustainable practices. On a day-to-day basis, the Lab acts as an environmental steward, operating under a long-term site sustainability plan. Organizations at the Lab continuously plan, execute, and evaluate operations in order to improve and maximize the sustainable use of energy and water, as well as to create cost-effective energy through renewable energy projects. The long-term plan focuses on the past, present, and future projects occurring at the Lab.
Clean the past
Historic waste sites that date back to the Manhattan Project (1940s) are common at Los Alamos. The Laboratory is continuously making sure these areas are inspected and cleaned based on the data collected in these places. Continuous observations of these sites ensure the protection of human health and the environment.
Control the present
At present, the majority of the environment is monitored to ensure the Laboratory is following regulations through the EMS. EMS creates a safe work environment while also safeguarding the environment being worked on. Monitoring occurring at the Labs includes wildlife, plants, water quality, and air quality.
The tree diagram demonstrates the roots and limbs of the environmental responsibilities at Los Alamos.
To learn more and to see other articles about how the Laboratory’s operations might impact Northern New Mexico, please check out the recently published Annual Site Environmental Report Summary, which details the Lab’s commitment to environmental programs.
