Title
Discussion and Possible Approval of Comments to the Site Wide Environmental Impact Statement (SWEIS) for Continued Operation of the Los Alamos National Laboratory
Recommended Action
I move that Council approve the County of Los Alamos Comments to the Site-Wide Environmental Impact Statement for Continued Operation of the Los Alamos National Laboratory and authorize the County Manager to submit the document to NNSA before the comment period closes.
County Manager's Recommendation
The County Manager recommends that Council approve the recommended action as requested.
Board, Commission or Committee Recommendation
The Council Federal Legislative Working Group recommends that Council approve the comments in Attachment A and submit them to NNSA by the closing date.
Body
The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), a semi-autonomous agency within the Department of Energy (DOE), recently announced the availability of the Draft Site-Wide Environmental Impact Statement for Continued Operation of the Los Alamos National Laboratory (Draft LANL SWEIS) (DOE/EIS-0552) in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. NNSA also announced a 60-day public comment period and four public hearings to receive comments on the Draft LANL SWEIS. NNSA prepared the Draft LANL SWEIS to analyze the potential environmental impacts associated with continuing LANL operations and foreseeable new and/or modified operations and facilities for approximately the next 15 years. The comment period closes April 10, 2025.
More details about the SWEIS can be found at the following link:
<https://www.energy.gov/nepa/articles/doeeis-0552-draft-environmental-impact-statement>
County staff consulting with the County Council Federal Legislative Working Group (Chair Cull, Councilor Ryti, and Councilor Havemann) have generated comments, shown in Attachment A, and recommended for Council approval and submittal.
Alternatives
Council could submit amended comments or not submit comments.
Attachments
A - Los Alamos County Comments on the LANL SWEIS