CCNS Granted Place At The Table In LANL Hazardous Waste Permit Appeal
SANTA FE, N.M.— Yesterday, Concerned Citizens for Nuclear Safety (CCNS), represented by the New Mexico Environmental Law Center (NMELC), has been granted its motion to intervene in appeals filed by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and Los Alamos National Security, LLC regarding a ten-year hazardous waste management permit at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). The Permit was issued by the Secretary of the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) to the appellants. The appeals challenge certain aspects of the Permit.
Get PDF of Order Granting Intervention.
“We expected no less,” says Jonathan Block, NMELC Staff Attorney. “CCNS was a dynamic party in the NMED hazardous waste permit hearings for LANL beginning in 2007, and has an important role to play in the federal court case.”
“The protection of our communities, water, air and soil from LANL pollutants is of upmost importance to CCNS,” says Joni Arends, CCNS Executive Director. “Our appeal supports the NMED position that it has the authority to regulate the entire 63-area ‘Area G’ waste storage site. We oppose, however, the NMED position that allows LANL to use the antiquated open air burning of hazardous waste as a disposal method. CCNS also opposes the NMED position that the groundwater monitoring is adequate.” (Photos of Area G)
The Permit was issued by the NMED on November 30, 2010 after three and a half years of public process. There were several versions of draft permits, along with opportunities for public comments, 40 days of negotiations between the parties, and a 15-day public hearing in Santa Fe, Albuquerque, Ohkay Owingeh, Pojoaque, and Los Alamos. The Los Alamos National Security, LLC, “co-operator” of LANL, opposed the CCNS motion to intervene.
“Our clients will defend the interests of all people in the vicinity who are concerned about nuclear safety and want a final, safe and effective clean-up of the highly toxic waste disposed of all around the LANL site,“ says Block.
Negotiations are scheduled to begin on August 24th before a Federal District Magistrate Judge.
INTERVIEWS ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST
Contacts:
Juana Colón
Communications and Public Education Associate
New Mexico Environmental Law Center
505-989-9022, ext. 21
Joni Arends
Executive Director
Concerned Citizens for Nuclear Safety
505-986-1973
###