Introduction
The State of New Mexico's authority to regulate the storage and treatment of hazardous waste at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) for the protection of human health and the environment is governed under the New Mexico Hazardous Waste Act (HWA) and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). Under RCRA, State programs are authorized to operate in lieu of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). New Mexico is authorized by EPA to issue and enforce RCRA hazardous waste facility permits under 50 Fed Reg 1515 (January 11, 1985). New Mexico implements this authority under the HWA, NMSA 1978, §74-4-1 et seq (Repl. Pamp. 2000).
On November 8, 1989, the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) first issued a Hazardous Waste Facility Permit to LANL for the storage and treatment of hazardous waste. On November 30, 2010 NMED renewed that Permit. In addition to permitting the storage and treatment of hazardous wastes at 24 separate waste management units, the renewal Permit addresses the closure and post-closure care of disposal units located at TA-54 Areas G, H, and L, and corrective action activities for solid waste management units and areas of concern and groundwater monitoring and remediation facility-wide. This web site provides the public with information regarding NMED's implementation of the Permit, including permit modifications at the request of the Permittees.
Current Permit
News
April 16, 2012 – The Permittees submitted to the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) a response to the Notice of Deficiency regarding the Class 3 modification request for the addition of the Transuranic Waste Facility at Technical Area 63. See the letter by clicking here.
March 27, 2012 - NMED issued a Notice of Disapproval for the Class 3 modification request for the addition of the Open Detonation Untis at Technical Areas 36 and 39. See the letter by clicking here.
February 14, 2012 - NMED issued an administrative completeness and fee assessment letter regarding the Class 3 modification request for the addition of the Open Detonation Units at Technical Areas 36 and 39. See the letter by clicking here.
February 1, 2012 - NMED issued a Notice of Deficiency and administrative completeness and fee assessment letter regarding the Class 3 modification request for the addition of the Transuranic Waste Facility at Technical Area 63. See the letter by clicking here.
November 28, 2011 - NMED today notifies the public via a mail-out and publication in major local newspapers that the July 19 and August 18, 2011 permit modification requests (see below) have been submitted to the NMED and that they are available for public review. See the public notice by clicking here. The notice explains that no action or decision is proposed by NMED at this time for either of these permit modification submittals.
On October 24, 2011, Secretary Martin determined that the Class 2 modficiaton request for the addition of the Transurance Waste Facility will be processed as a Class 3 modification. See determination letter by clicking here.
Also, see August 18, 2011 news below.
October 13, 2011 - NMED issued a Final Determination on two Class 1 permit modification requests (PMR) to the LANL Permit submitted by the Permittees under cover letters dated August 18, 2011. One PMR notifies NMED that the Permittees have changed telephone numbers listed in the Permit’s Contingency Plan and the title of a training course listed in the Training Plan. The other PMR reflects minor informational changes to the Permit associated with Technical Areas (TAs) 3 and 55, including clarification of access control and the alarm and exhaust systems at TA-3, and correction of inaccurate dimensions in the Permit associated with TA-55, Rooms K13 and B40. After ensuring compliance with the applicable permit modification regulations at 20.4.1.900 NMAC, incorporating 40 CFR § 270.42, NMED has altered the Permit accordingly.
- Go to the Download Page for the current version of the Permit, the final determination letter sent to Permittees, and the Permit pages showing modifications.
August 18, 2011 - The Permittees submitted to the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) a Class 2 modification request for the addition of the Transuranic Waste Facility at Technical Area 63 to the current permit. See modification request by clicking here. The Permittees conducted a public comment period and public meetings as regulatorily required. The comments that NMED received during the Permittee's comment period can be reviewed by clicking here.
On October 24, 2011, Secretary Martin determined that the requested permit modification will be processed as a Class 3 modification. See determination letter by clicking here.
Comments received during the public comment period conducted by the Permittees. See comments by clicking here.
July 19, 2011 - The Permittees submitted to the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) a Class 3 modification request for the addition of Open Detonation (OD) units at Technical Area 36 (TA-36-8) and Technical Area 39 (TA-39-6) to the current permit. See modification request by clicking here. The Permittees conducted a public comment period and public meetings as regulatorily required. The comments that NMED received during the Permittee's comment period can be reviewed by clicking here.
June 3, 2011 - NMED issued a Final Determination on a Class 1 permit modification request (PMR) to the LANL Permit submitted by the Permittees under a cover letter dated March 16, 2011. The PMR notifies NMED that the Permittees have revised emergency equipment lists, proposed clarifying Permit conditions and inspection activities, and added and removed structures from permitted units. After ensuring compliance with the applicable permit modification regulations at 20.4.1.900 NMAC, incorporating 40 CFR § 270.42, NMED has altered the Permit accordingly.
- Go to the Download Page for the Final Determination letter sent to Permittees, and Permit pages showing modifications
Nov 30, 2010 - NMED Issued a renewal permit.
Renewal Permit