The New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) Hazardous Waste Bureau (HWB) is issuing an approval allowing Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) to treat four (4) pressurized gas containers, also known as flanged tritium waste container (FTWCs). The FTWCs were packaged in 2007, lead waste was also packaged with tritium, making the containers a mixture of hazardous waste and radioactive waste. The FTWCs are a pressurized gas hazard due to the breakdown of tritium over many years, preventing the four containers from being repackaged and transported off site, requiring onsite treatment.
The temporary authorization will allow LANL to first depressurize the containers at technical area (TA) 54, then move the containers to technical area (TA) 16, where the waste will be treated, then shipped to a final disposal site. LANL plans to perform the depressurization of one container at a time and is estimating 3-4 days to depressurize each container. The treatment will include depressurization and the capture of released gas. The entire depressurization operation will be monitored by both LANL and the EPA. Following depressurization of all four (4) containers at TA-54, the containers will be transported and temporarily stored at the weapons engineering tritium facility (WETF) at TA 16. At WETF, the containers will be repackaged, and the lead component will be separated from the FTWCs containers. The lead portion of the waste will be characterized and then the container(s) will be shipped off-site for final disposal to a licensed storage facility.
While NMED finds that the Permittees request is consistent with the applicable requirements of 40 CFR §270.42(e), which allows for NMED to consider granting approval of the temporary authorization of a Class 2 modification meeting the criteria in §270.42(e)(3)(ii), there is significant public interest in this matter. Therefore, NMED will not act on the temporary authorization request until the following criteria are successfully met by the Permittees is provided in the letter listed below, but is summarized generally as:
- Independent Technical Review. Permittees shall obtain an independent technical review for alternative options for the depressurization of the FTWCs.
- Public Meeting. Meeting must include a review of the independent technical review, the preferred treatment process, and a discussion of the safety mechanism and contingencies to ensure the protection of human health and the environment during operations.
- Tribal Consultation. Permittees shall host a tribal consultation with interested tribal governments related to the independent technical review.
- Compliance Audit. Permittees shall retain an independent auditor to conduct a hazardous waste compliance audit of its operations.
June 9, 2025 – After ensuring compliance with the applicable requests for Temporary Authorization regulations at 20.4.1.900 NMAC, incorporating 40 CFR §270.42, NMED has issued this response to the Temporary Authorization that was submitted by the Permittees.
To see the Permittees’ Request and NMED’s letter, click on the links below.
June 9, 2025 – NMED Response to Temporary Authorization Request
April 4, 2025 – DOE Notification of Planned Start of Activity
June 6, 2023 – DOE Public Outreach on FTWCs
January 28, 2022 – DOE Supplemental Information on Application for Treatment
December 13, 2021 – EPA Determination on the Definition of Treatment
October 28, 2021 – NMED Request RCRA Treatment Determination
September 3, 2020 – DOE Notification of Planned Start of Activity
March 9, 2020 – DOE Withdrawal and Resubmittal Temporary Authorization
June 20, 2019 – DOE Request for Temporary Authorization
LANL Hazardous Waste Facility Permit Mailing List
The New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) is required by regulation to maintain a Facility Mailing List as part of its oversight of the Los Alamos National Laboratory Hazardous (LANL) Waste Facility Permit (Permit). NMED, as well as the Department of Energy (collectively, the Permittees), use this list to inform stakeholders, including interested members of the public, of comment periods for permit modification requests and draft permits, and final NMED administrative actions on permit decisions, etc. If you wish to add your name to NMED’s LANL Facility Mailing List, please notify Siona Briley by email at siona.briley@env.nm.gov , or by postal mail at Siona Briley, New Mexico Environment Department-Hazardous Waste Bureau, 2905 Rodeo Park East, Bldg. 1, Santa Fe, NM 87505. Please include your name, email (preferred communication method to save resources) or postal mailing address, and organization, if any.
The Permittees are required per Permit Part 1, to maintain a separate email notification list. The Permittees use this list to notify members of the public concerning actions such as reporting planned changes, reporting anticipated noncompliance, etc. If you wish to subscribe to the Permittees’ email notification list.