New Mexico Environment Department Secretary Kenney Pauses Proposed Tritium Venting by LANL for Now

Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) planned to vent 30,000 curies of radioactive tritium into the air during several weekends this summer but it must have approval from the New Mexico Environment Department.  James Kenney, Environment Department Secretary, citing significant public interest in the proposed plan, determined that prior to the Environment Department making any final decision, LANL would be required to perform four additional steps.

In a June 9, 2025 letter to the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) and its contractor, Triad National Security, LLC, Kenney describes four new conditions that would have to be “successfully met” by the federal entities before he would consider whether to issue a temporary authorization to vent four tritium canisters. 2025-06-09 – NMED RPD HWB NNSA Temporary Authorization Letter

The four conditions are:

• an independent, third-party technical review of alternatives to vent the canisters;
• a public meeting with interested stakeholders to examine the independent, third-party technical review of alternatives. The meeting will provide opportunities to make comments and a period for questions and answers;
• a hazardous waste compliance audit by an independent, third-party auditor;
• The resulting three reports are required to be submitted to the Environment Department and will be made available to the public on LANL’s website.

The fourth condition requires LANL to host consultation with interested tribes. The consultation will focus on the reports as well as protection of cultural practices, human health and the environment.

The current outcome is the result of a six year effort by Tewa Women United, Communities for Clean Water, Concerned Citizens for Nuclear Safety, Nuclear Watch New Mexico, technical experts and many individuals who signed petitions, attended meetings and communicated their health and safety concerns about the proposed venting.

Importantly, Secretary Kenney concluded his letter by stating:

“In closing, the historical gross mismanagement of these waste streams by DOE and NNSA have placed NMED in an untenable situation. Now, the risk of inaction poses a far greater threat than a technical solution, but no technical solution is free from risk. Your disregard of state laws and rules governing these wastes for almost 20 years greatly exacerbated this situation and put New Mexicans, tribal communities, and our environment at risk. Given your failure to comply with New Mexico Hazardous Waste Act and its regulations codified at 20.4.1 of the New Mexico Administrative Code, you are hereby notified that NMED is separately commencing a civil enforcement action pursuant to this matter.”

1. Join us on Friday, June 13th from noon to 1 pm 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 the weekly peaceful protest 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. Watch the “Television Event” 2:13 minute trailer at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5S5RGRsTwjM It is about the television movie of the week during about nuclear war during the Reagan administration.

3. June 10^th through June 14^th – Atomic 66: A convergence of Space, Art, Tech, and Culture, Albuquerque, NM.  A special pop-up exhibit of the Atomic Art by Tony Price is included in the immersive events at Lobo Theatre as part of Atomic 66 – billed as a “gathering of innovators, creative, the curious, and the ones bold enough to think they can reshape tomorrow.”  For more information:  https://tonypriceatomicartist.com/ ,  https://www.atomic66.org/

4. Monday, June 16^th from 2 to 3 pm MT – Union of Concerned Scientists invites you to a training webinar on how to submit a comment to ensure NNSA fully considers the public and environmental risks that come with planned expanded plutonium pit production.

Comment periods help increase transparency to the public, and it is crucial that the NNSA and the US Department of Energy hear from scientists, experts, and community members like you.  Register at:  https://secure.ucs.org/a/2025-6-16-peis-comment-training-1

5. Thursday, July 10^th from 12:30 pm to 5:30 pm ET; 10:30 am to 3:30 pm MT – From Trinity to Today: Nuclear Weapons and the Way Forward, a hybrid event. Registration is required to attend. You can register to attend in-person or on-line

The Arms Control Association and Win Without War invite you to commemorate the 80^th anniversary of the atomic age through a three panel series that highlights the impacts of the bomb and showcases the role citizen campaigns have had in changing the course of nuclear history.

Join one or all the three panel series:

• • Toxic and Radioactive Legacy of Nuclear Use, Production, Testing
  • The Role of Citizens in Reducing the Nuclear Danger
  • Today’s Nuclear Dangers/Consequences of Nuclear War

For more information and registration:  https://www.armscontrol.org/From_Trinity_to_Today

6. Friday, July 11^th from 6 pm MT to Saturday, July 12^th to 6 pm – Fourth Annual 24-hour Peace Wave – addressing the need to abolish nuclear weapons. Peace Wave is a 24-hour long Zoom featuring live peace actions in the streets and squares of the world, moving around the globe with the sun. The Peace Wave visits dozens of location around the globe and includes rallies, concerts, production of artworks, blood drives, installations of peace poles, dances, speeches, and public demonstrations of all variety.

 To sign up to watch Peace Wave, to embed the sign-up on your website, to watch the past three years’ peace waves, and to answer most questions, go to https://24hourpeacewave.org   To discuss including your live event in the Peace Wave, email info@worldbeyondwar.org

7. Sunday, July 13^th – Interfaith Remembrance of the Trinity Test: 80 Years and Still Waiting – doors open at 2 pm and event starts at 2:30 to 5 pm, at St. Pius X School, 5301 St. Josephs Drive NW, Albuquerque, NM. 80 year ago the U.S. government did not warn New Mexicans about the atomic bomb Trinity Test. To this day, downwinders of the first atomic bomb test have never been acknowledged or compensated. Today we are locked in a second nuclear arms race and again New Mexico plays a crucial role. It is long overdue that the nuclear powers honor their promises in international treaties to rid the world of the most dangerous weapons.

 Free event — all are welcome, pre-registration is encouraged. RSVP here.

8. SAVE THE DATE – SATURDAY, JULY 19^TH at 7:30 am – 46^TH ANNUAL URANIUM MILL TAILINGS SPILL COMMEMORATION HELD IN RED WATER POND ROAD COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION. https://swuraniumimpacts.org/

 Each year, the community of Red Water Pond hosts a commemoration of the uranium mill tailings spill that took place 46 years ago and continues to impact local community members. These gatherings include speakers, tabling, a silent auction, and a walk commemorating the spill.  https://swuraniumimpacts.org/red-water-pond-road-community-association/

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