Representatives from eight non-governmental organizations signed a letter Wednesday asking for a 45-day extension to provide “informed public comments” about Los Alamos National Laboratory’s site-wide environmental impact statement.
“This extension is necessary to ensure the public and Tribes may thoroughly review and analyze the extensive and complex information contained in the draft document, which exceeds 1,500 pages,” the letter said.
The Department of Energy and its semi-autonomous National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) are drafting of a site-wide environmental impact statement (SWEIS) for Los Alamos National Laboratory, a requirement of the National Environmental Policy Act. The DOE and NNSA announced a 60-day public comment period, which would include four public hearings to receive comments on the draft, through March 11.
“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,” an NNSA notice from Jan. 10 said.
The letter by the NGOs said that the public comment period overlaps with the 60-day New Mexico legislative session and the annual transition of Pueblo leadership and a “very significant period in the Pueblo cultural calendar with a multitude of cultural activity necessitating the time and attention of leadership, administration, and staff.” The letter also said that the public and tribes would need additional time to analyze the impacts of the new presidential administration on energy policy.
“Despite DOE NNSA’s stated commitment to holding periodic technical briefings and updates throughout the SWEIS process, over two years have passed between the scoping period and the release of the draft SWEIS with the public and Tribes having not received any additional information and public meetings,” the letter said.
The groups represented in the letter are Concerned Citizens for Nuclear Safety, Nuclear Watch New Mexico, Multicultural Alliance for a Safe Environment, Tewa Women United, Breath of my Heart Birthplace, Veterans for Peace Albuquerque, Loretto Community, and Citizens for Alternatives to Radioactive Dumping.
The public hearings will be Tuesday-Thursday, Feb. 11-13, with virtual options included for the Santa Fe hearings on Tuesday. The letter requested that the Espanola and Los Alamos public hearings, on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively, have a virtual option as well.