Welcome to the Department of Energy Oversight Bureau of the New Mexico Environment Department.

The Department of Energy Oversight Bureau (DOE-OB) conducts independent environmental monitoring of Department of Energy (DOE) operations in New Mexico and provides transparent, unbiased, and publicly available information to the citizens of New Mexico.

The DOE Oversight Bureau work is achieved through four (4) primary objectives:

• Develop and implement vigorous environmental monitoring programs at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Sandia National Laboratories/New Mexico (SNL/NM), the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP), and the areas surrounding these facilities. These environmental monitoring programs include both joint and independent environmental monitoring activities and evaluations for all environmental media, including air, water, soils and sediments, biota, and atmospheric deposition. The focus of these evaluations and monitoring programs is on the potential contaminant levels of heavy metals, organic and inorganic compounds, and radionuclides.
• Publish environmental monitoring data and data interpretation reports.
• Provide technical review of reports, protocols, environmental assessments, and other documents related to DOE facilities in New Mexico and participate in task forces, teams, and groups related to these activities.
• Increase public knowledge and awareness of environmental matters at DOE facilities in New Mexico by publishing data reports through participation in public meetings and listening sessions, community engagement meetings, consultations, environmental fairs ,and other public events.

 

The DOE-OB activities are funded through a grant from the U.S. DOE in accordance with the provisions set forth in the site specific protocols between the State of New Mexico and the U.S. DOE.

 

The DOE-Oversight Bureau presented a Bureau overview at the inaugural New Mexico Environment Department Resource Protection Division Los Alamos community engagement meeting from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m, Monday, July 8, 2019, at the Pajarito Room, Fuller Lodge, 2132 Central Ave., Los Alamos, New Mexico. The meeting was public noticed (English or Spanish) for further details.  Meeting handouts included a Department of Energy Oversight Bureau Overview (English and Spanish) and an Intellus New Mexico Overview (English and Spanish).