EPA Public Meetings about WIPP Expansion: August 26th in Carlsbad and August 28th in Santa Fe
The Department of Energy (DOE) wants to expand its operations at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) for plutonium-contaminated waste from the fabrication of nuclear weapons. In March, DOE submitted a Planned Change Request to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) seeking permission to mine and operate two underground disposal panels in the WIPP underground disposal facility. 
EPA wants to hear from you and is hosting public meetings in Carlsbad and Santa Fe the week of August 26th. https://www.epa.gov/radiation/wipp-news#WIPP-PCR
EPA has one of two ways to decide whether to grant permission. One is through an internal administrative process. The second is through a legal rulemaking that allows the public to present legal challenges to the decision. A full rulemaking and a comprehensive review of the risks from DOE’s proposed changes is the only way to ensure nuclear safety.
Further, DOE wants to significantly expand the WIPP underground with Panels 11 and 12 and eventually mine seven additional panels – Panels 13 through 19 – to bring new types of waste to WIPP, including surplus plutonium. As a result EPA requested additional scientific data and information about how seven new panels and new types of waste would affect WIPP’s ability to contain the waste for 10,000 years.
To help you prepare public comments, the Stop Forever WIPP Coalition is hosting a virtual educational webinar on Wednesday, August 21st from 6 to 8 pm. Don Hancock, the Director of the Southwest Research and Information Center Nuclear Waste Program http://sric.org/ , and Doug Meiklejohn, the Water Quality and Land Restoration Advocate at Conservation Voters of New Mexico https://cvnm.org/ , will present about the DOE Planned Change Request, EPA’s decision making process, and how you can help stop WIPP expansion. Zoom registration link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZckdu2urzovG9HUHimFBKcTho4p_amGvt8L#/registration
The informational webinar will prepare you to provide public comments at the in-person and virtual EPA meeting on Monday, August 26th from 2 to 4 pm at the DOE’s Carlsbad Field Office, 4021 National Parks Highway. Zoom registration link: https://usepa.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJIsdeiqrTwpHUkjZ1z_djiz7fqgYMDqcc8
On Wednesday, August 28th from 1 to 3 pm in Santa Fe, EPA will host an in-person and virtual technical meeting among experts about planned changed request. The public is invited to observe. Zoom registration link: https://usepa.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJIsdOyqqjosG2w3uwOoOk4UNSxZwyXxE2s
From 6 to 8 pm EPA will host an in-person and virtual public meeting and receive comments about DOE’s Planned Change Request. https://usepa.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJIsdumqrzIvHZWmhyQ_Jh7EBe1EcgTmi5Y
Both Santa Fe meetings will take place in the Canyon Ballroom at the Hilton Santa Fe-Historic Plaza, 100 Sandoval Street.
- Friday, August 9th at 11 am on the Santa Fe Plaza –
A Hiroshima and Nagasaki Commemoration Event with speakers and songs by the Raging Grannies. Join in on the singing.
At 11:45 am we’ll walk to the intersection of West Alameda and Sandoval for the weekly one-hour peaceful protest for nuclear disarmament. Bring your flags, signs and banners. Join the weekly peaceful protest with Veterans for Peace, CCNS, Nuclear Watch NM, Loretto Community, New Mexico Peace Fest, Pax Christi and others.
- Monday, August 5th through Friday, August 9th –
NM Water Quality Control Commission public hearing about reuse of fracking “produced water” waste continues. https://www.defendnmwater.org/
Tuesday, August 6th through Friday, August 9th: public comment from 9 to 10 am and 1 to 2 pm.
For more information:
NOTICE OF CONTINUATION OF PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE NEW MEXICO ENVIRONMENT DEPARTMENT’S PROPOSED WATER
REUSE REGULATIONS, GROUND AND SURFACE WATER PROTECTION – SUPPLEMENTAL REQUIREMENTS FOR WATER REUSE (20.6.8 NMAC)
The Public Hearing for proposed supplemental water reuse regulations will continue in-person in Room 322 at the New Mexico State Capitol, 411 S. Capitol Street, in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and via the WebEx video conferencing platform beginning on Monday, August 5, 2024, at 9:00 a.m.
and continuing as necessary. Detailed information concerning the time and location can be found on the New Mexico Environment Department’s (“NMED’s”) Event Calendar at
https://www.env.nm.gov/events-calendar/ . Please visit the WQCC website prior to the hearing for any updates at https://www.env.nm.gov/opf/water-quality-control-commission/.
- Thursday, August 8th from 5:30 to 7 pm –
New Mexico Environment Department virtual public meeting about its nomination of certain surface waters of New Mexico as Outstanding National Resource Waters (ONRWs). Opportunities to ask questions and provide comments.
The draft nomination, amended regulatory language, and additional information are available on the NMED website (https://www.env.nm.gov/surface-water-quality/2024onrw/). The SWQB is holding a public comment period on the nomination and amended regulatory language through August 19, 2024, at 5:00 PM MDT. If you have any questions or to submit comments, please contact Michael Baca, WQS Coordinator, NMED SWQB, P.O. Box 5469, Santa Fe, NM, 87502, michael.baca1@env.nm.gov or (505) 470-1652.
- Tuesday, August 13th by 5 pm MT – Comments about the Second Five-Year Report about the DOE/Sandia Mixed Waste Landfill. For information about the hazards, leaks and threats of not removing the waste from the unlined Mixed Waste Landfill (MWL), visit the Citizen Action New Mexico website at: https://www.radfreenm.org/index.php
To review the public notice and administrative information about the MWL, go to the New Mexico Environment Department: https://www.env.nm.gov/hazardous-waste/snl-mwl-2/
In your comments, provide your name and address and reference: SNL – MWL Second Five-Year Report, December 2023. 
Submit them to:
Neelam Dhawan, Acting Program Manager
NMED – Hazardous Waste Bureau
2905 rodeo Park Drive East, Bldg. 1
Santa Fe, NM 87505-6303
Email: neelam.dhawan@env.nm.gov
Phone: 505-476-6000
Thank you!
- Wednesday, August 14th from 7 am to 2 pm MT – Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board (DNFSB) –
Observe the public hearing focused on aging safety infrastructure. This public hearing will benchmark best practices in the management of aging safety infrastructure to inform the development of potential safety improvements to the DOE’s programs. The hearing will explore insights and experience from the NRC, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, NASA, GAO and American Nuclear Society. https://www.dnfsb.gov/aging-infrastructure-management
The hearing will be accessible via live stream through the website at www.dnfsb.gov. The DNFSB will accept written statements, which can be submitted to hearing@dnfsb.gov.
Tags: Conservation Voters of New Mexico, CVNM, Department of Energy, Director of Southwest Research and Information Center Nuclear Waste Program, DOE, Don Hancock, Doug Meiklejohn, Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, internal administrative process, Panels 11 and 12, PCR, Planned Change Request, proposed Panels 13-19, rulemaking, Stop Forever WIP Coalition, Waste Isolation Pilot Plant, Water Quality and Land Restoration Advocate, WIPP
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