NNSA publishes Draft Site-Wide Environmental Impact Statement for Los Alamos National Laboratory

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) has published its Draft Site-Wide Environment Impact Statement (SWEIS) for Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) assessing current and future impacts of the Lab's operations. It will be available for public review and comment beginning today, Jan. 10, 2025, for 60 days. The SWEIS analyzes the potential environmental impacts of LANL operations for approximately the next 15 years.

The document is available here. Public hearings are scheduled for February 11-13 in Santa Fe, Española, and Los Alamos.

The Draft LANL SWEIS analyzes three alternatives: (1) the No-Action Alternative, (2) the Modernized Operations Alternative, and (3) the Expanded Operations Alternative. Under the No-Action Alternative, NNSA would continue current facility operations throughout LANL in support of assigned missions. The No-Action Alternative activities have previously completed NEPA reviews and include construction of new facilities; modernization, upgrade, and utility projects; and decontamination, decommissioning, and demolition (DD&D) of excess and aging facilities. The No-Action Alternative also includes the continued legacy cleanup and environmental remediation in accordance with the Consent Order.

The Modernized Operations Alternative includes the scope of the No-Action Alternative plus additional modernization activities, including (1) construction of replacement facilities; (2) upgrades to existing facilities, utilities, and infrastructure; and (3) DD&D projects. Under the Modernized Operations Alternative, NNSA would replace facilities that are approaching their end-of-life, upgrade facilities to extend their lifetimes, and improve work environments to enable NNSA to meet operational requirements. The Modernized Operations Alternative also includes proposed projects to reduce greenhouse gases and other emissions.

The Expanded Operations Alternative includes the actions included in the Modernized Operations Alternative, plus actions that would expand operations and missions to respond to future national security challenges and meet increasing requirements. This alternative includes construction and operation of new facilities that would expand capabilities at LANL beyond those that currently exist.

NNSA invites other federal agencies, Native American Tribes, state and local governments, industry, other organizations, and members of the public to review and submit comments on the Draft LANL SWEIS through March 11, 2025. Comments may be submitted via one of the following means:

• By email to: [email protected]
• By mail to Mr. Stephen Hoffman, LANL SWEIS Document Manager, DOE/NNSA, 3747 W. Jemez Road, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87544
• Verbally at one of the public hearings
• In written form at one of the public hearings

Public hearings are scheduled for:

• February 11, 2025, at the Santa Fe Community Convention Center, Sweeney Room, 1-4 p.m. and 5-8 p.m. There will be a virtual option for these two meeting. Virtual hearing access instructions (e.g., website link or phone number) will be announced at least 15 days before the hearing and will be published in local newspapers, noticed to the GovDelivery mailing list, and available on the following websites: /nnsa/nnsa-nepa-reading-room and /nepa/public-comment-opportunities.
• February 12, 2025, in Española at Mision y Convento, 5-8 p.m. This meeting is in-person only.
• February 13, 2025, in Los Alamos at Fuller Lodge, Pajarito Room, 5-8 p.m. This meeting is in-person only.