The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Environmental Management Los Alamos Field Office (EM-LA) is initiating the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process to evaluate the potential environmental impacts of continued operations of the Interim Measures (IM) to control migration of the hexavalent chromium plume beneath Sandia and Mortandad canyons at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). EM-LA will also evaluate the environmental impacts of alternatives for the final remedy for the hexavalent chromium plume.
The 2016 Compliance Order on Consent (Consent Order) between DOE and the State of New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) is the principal regulatory document governing legacy cleanup at LANL. The Consent Order sets forth the corrective action process, including the submission of Corrective Measures Evaluation (CME) Reports. EM-LA is preparing a NEPA Environmental Assessment (EA) to evaluate alternatives for a CME Report as part of the Chromium Interim Measures and Characterization Campaign under the Consent Order. The EA will give DOE sufficient evidence and analysis to determine whether to issue a finding of no significant impact.
EM-LA invites public comment during a 30-day period commencing on May 8, 2023, and ending on June 6, 2023. Two public meetings will provide interested stakeholders with opportunities to ask questions and submit comments on the proposed alternatives, as well as other related matters regarding the proposed EA. After public comments are received, EM-LA will prepare a draft EA. The public will have the opportunity to comment on this document.
Public scoping meetings are scheduled for the following dates and times:
May 8, 2023: In-person meeting at Cities of Gold Hotel and Casino Ballroom, 10 Cities of Gold Road,
Pojoaque, New Mexico at 6:00 P.M. MDT
May 9, 2023: Virtual meeting at 1:30 P.M. MDT
- To join via Video through your computer or smart device, go to
bit.ly/EM-LA-ChromiumEAMeeting2
- To join via Audio (participants will hear the presentation but not see it), call +1 669-444-9171 US
and enter the Meeting ID: 812 5413 6625 and Passcode: 954246
Public comments must be received by June 6, 2023.
Other options for submitting comments:
Email: [email protected] (preferred)
Please use the subject line: Chromium EA Scoping Comment
U.S. mail:
Jesse Kahler
NEPA Compliance Officer
U.S. DOE Environmental Management Los Alamos Field Office
1200 Trinity Drive, Suite 400
Los Alamos, NM 87544