Learn more :: Media Coverage :: Committee Pushes to Open Los Alamos Lab's Water Talks
10:11 am: Committee pushes to open Los Alamos lab's water Talks
Associated Press, September 30, 2004
LOS ALAMOS, N.M. - A Department of Energy citizens advisory group wants the federal government to open up what have been closed-door talks over surface water monitoring requirements for Los Alamos National Laboratory.
The Northern New Mexico Citizens Advisory Committee on Wednesday approved a letter to Richard Greene, Region 6 administrator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, urging him to allow public comment on an agreement that would set temporary surface water monitoring standards at the lab under the Clean Water Act.
The state and a Santa Fe-based environmental group, Concerned Citizens for Nuclear Safety, already have asked that the public be given a chance to comment.
The EPA has said the agreement being negotiated with the DOE does not legally require public involvement.
James Janis, a member of the citizens advisory board, disagreed. He said it falls under the Clean Water Act, which "couldn't be clearer" about requirements that the public be involved in major permitting decisions.
The committee also argued that the EPA allowed public involvement in at least two previous such agreements involving Los Alamos.
The DOE supports the board and the state in seeking public involvement, John Ordaz of the DOE told board members.
Joni Arends, director of Concerned Citizens for Nuclear Safety, raised the issue in a letter last week to the EPA seeking a 60-day public comment period on a DOE-EPA agreement.
State Environment Secretary Ron Curry has said he will not approve the historic cleanup plan recently agreed to by the state, the lab and the University of California, which operates Los Alamos lab, unless the DOE and EPA come up with a surface water agreement giving the state authority to inspect the lab under the Clean Water Act.
Public comments on that cleanup plan, which state officials say would finish work on 60 years of waste by 2015, are due to the state by the end of the week.
Surface water monitoring originally was part of the plan, but was deleted as part of a negotiated deal on the condition that the Energy Department and the EPA establish such a federal facility compliance agreement, under which the EPA would retain authority to issue violations and penalties.
The agreement is necessary for the state to monitor surface water at the northern New Mexico nuclear weapons lab. New Mexico is one of only five states which has not been delegated that authority by the EPA under the Clean Water Act.
New Mexico officials are working toward acquiring that authority and hope to have it by 2006.
The advisory board said it's concerned that the state may not have the staff to ensure timely and technically adequate review of lab cleanup work. It also said the cleanup order does not address the state's accountability for failing to meet deadlines, although the lab and DOE face fines if they fall behind.
The board's comments on the state cleanup plan called for a more organized and coherent process for public participation. The board suggested the state adopt a comprehensive community relations plan.
Published the Sante Fe New Mexican. Learn more :: Media Coverage :: Committee Pushes to Open Los Alamos Lab's Water Talks |
