DOE and NNSA Declare No Significant Impact from the Proposed LANL Electrical Power Capacity Upgrade Project

Over 24,000 people provided public comments to the Department of Energy (DOE) and National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) in opposition to the proposed Electrical Power Capacity Upgrade (EPCU) Project during a convoluted multi-federal agency and multi-year review process to expand electric power to Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL).  Nevertheless, on Wednesday, DOE and NNSA issued its Finding of No Significant Impact, or a FONSI. https://www.energy.gov/sites/default/files/2025-08/fonsi-decision-notice-ea-2199-epcu-2025-08_2.pdf

The FONSI approves LANL’s plans to upgrade the electrical power supply system by installing a third line across the sacred and historical Caja del Rio and the Rio Grande.  LANL is the sole facility in the U.S. with the capability to fabricate plutonium pits, or cores, for nuclear weapons.

While DOE and NNSA state that they need more power for plutonium pit production, the annual electrical needs of LANL and Los Alamos County have remained steady at 90 megawatts for the past 25 years. https://www.energy.gov/sites/default/files/2023-11/draft-ea-2199-epcu-project-2023-11_0.pdf, p. 13 of pdf.

DOE and NNSA find support for the third line in the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act, in which Congress required the rebuilding of LANL infrastructure for plutonium pit production.  Unfortunately, there has been limited information available to the public about the passage of that provision.

Further, the FONSI may be supported by a significantly revised document called “Global 2017,” which supports statements found in the draft November 2023 EPCU Environmental Assessment (EA) that more electrical power would be needed by LANL by 2027.   https://www.energy.gov/sites/default/files/2023-11/draft-ea-2199-epcu-project-2023-11_0.pdf, p. 10 of pdf.

In preparing comments for the draft EA, CCNS carefully reviewed the Global 2017 Integrated Resource Plan Report and found that it was prepared for the Caribbean Utilities Company, and dated July 28, 2017.  Surprisely, the Department of Energy, DOE, Los Alamos County, Los Alamos National Laboratory, LANL, National Nuclear Security Administration, or NNSA are not mentioned in the Global 2017 report, but it is cited to support the EPCU.  https://www.ofreg.ky/viewPDF/documents/energy-publications/2021-05-12-03-10-01-PACECUCIRPFinalReport1547843767.pdf

In our extensive public comments on the draft EA, CCNS questioned LANL’s unsupported statements that it could run out of energy by 2027.

Now, CCNS found in the final EA that the Global 2017 Integrated Resource Plan Report referenced there is not the same report as referenced in the draft EA.  The final EA version of the 2017 Integrated Resource Plan Report was prepared for Los Alamos County and dated June 30, 2017.  It was not provided for public review for the draft EA process.  https://www.losalamosnm.us/files/sharedassets/public/v/1/departments/utilities/documents/integrated-resource-plan-irp-2017-final-report.pdf

Why is this important?  It is important because LANL substituted a rewritten report in the final EA for one referenced in the draft EA – all without public notice.  CCNS questions:  What else has been changed?  How have those changes impacted the FONSI determination?

In related news this week, NNSA has completed an “independent” technical review of its plans to “depressurize” four Flanged Tritium Waste Containers stored at Area G.  On Wednesday, August 20th from 5:30–7:30 p.m., NNSA will host a hybrid public meeting.  See NNSA post below:

NNSA completes Independent Technical Review of proposed depressurization of four Flanged Tritium Waste Containers at LANL

The U.S. Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security Administration’s (DOE/NNSA) Los Alamos Field Office has completed and posted the Flanged Tritium Waste Container Depressurization Independent Technical Report at https://cdn.lanl.gov/files/nnsa-ftwc-independent-technical-report-20250812-final_2f154.pdf

It’s now the first document listed under the “Downloads” section at https://www.lanl.gov/engage/environment/ftwc

The Report is in response to New Mexico Environment Department’s request, outlined in a June 2025 letter to DOE/NNSA, to conduct an independent, third-party technical review of alternative options for the depressurization of the four flanged tritium waste containers.

Also, at the request of NMED, the Los Alamos Field Office and experts from Los Alamos National Laboratory are hosting a hybrid public meeting to discuss the depressurization process and the report.

The public meeting will take place on Wednesday, August 20, from 5:30–7:30 p.m. at the Sala Event Center, 2551 Central Ave., Los Alamos, NM.

A virtual dial-in option is available for those who cannot participate in-person. Virtual access information is as follows:

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85989515275?pwd=PSiYLhJroaa7TRwUnGZTikeLsJ0auO.1

Meeting ID: 859 8951 5275

Passcode: 693831

For more information about the depressurization of the four flanged tritium waste containers process and to view the video walkthrough demonstration, please visit: https://www.lanl.gov/engage/environment/ftwc

1. Friday, August 15^th from noon to 1 pm – Join your neighbors and friends at the intersection of East Alameda and Sandoval for the weekly one-hour peaceful protest for nuclear disarmament and against expanded plutonium pit production at LANL. Join with Veterans for Peace, CCNS, Nuclear Watch NM, Loretto Community, New Mexico Peace Fest, Pax Christi and others. Bring your flags, signs and banners in support of nuclear weapons disarmament.

2. Friday, August 1^st through Friday, August 29^th – Anti-Uranium Mapping Project Opening with photographer and activist Shayla Blatchford who documents her 14-year journey to expose the hidden truths of extractive mining practices on the Navajo Nation. CENTER, 1570 Pacheco St., Unit B1, Santa Fe, NM.

 Special reception for the artist on Thursday, August 14^th from 5 to 8 pm.

https://www.antiuraniummappingproject.com/   

3. Wednesday, August 20^th from 5:30 to 7:30 pm – NNSA public meeting about the proposed venting of radioactive venting of tritium from four Flanged Tritium Waste Containers.  For more details, please see this week’s Update.

4. Thursday, November 13^th and Friday, November 14^th – International Uranium Film Festival at the Navajo National Museum in Window Rock. For more information, visit: https://uraniumfilmfestival.org/

Tags: 2017 Integrated Resource Plan Report, 2020 National Defense Authorization Act, Caja del Rio, Caribbean Utilities Company, CCNS, Department of Energy, DOE, draft EPCU Environmental Assessment, Electrical Power Capacity Upgrade (EPCU) Project, final EPCU Environmental Assessment, finding of no significant impact, Flanged Tritium Waste Containers, FONSI, FTWCs, Global 2017, LANL, Los Alamos County, Los Alamos National Laboratory, National Nuclear Security Administration, NNSA