The big day is here! Today, nuclear weapons become illegal under international law: the UN Treaty on the Prohibitions of Nuclear Weapons – or #nuclearban treaty – is entering into force. Join the celebrations all around the world: icanw.org/entryintoforce
The Department of Energy (DOE) will hold two four-hour virtual public meetings on Monday, January 25th and Tuesday, January 26th about its plans to dilute and dispose of up to 48.2 metric tons of radioactive surplus plutonium at the deep geologic Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP), located in southeastern New Mexico. DOE is seeking public comments about the scope of a new draft environment impact statement that will examine the DOE’s preferred alternative to dilute and dispose of the plutonium and any alternatives.
https://www.energy.gov/nepa/downloads/doeeis-0549-notice-intent For more information, check out the Action Alerts prepared by the Stop Forever WIPP Coalition, of which CCNS is a part. http://nuclearactive.org/doe-breaks-its-promises-to-new-mexico-part-i/ and http://nuclearactive.org/doe-breaks-its-promises-to-new-mexico-part-2/
Scoping comments are due to DOE on or before Monday, February 1, 2021. You can make comments during the virtual meetings, or by phone, email, or U.S. Mail. The Stop Forever WIPP Coalition has prepared sample public comment letters you can use that are posted here: f one-pager Surplus Pu Scoping EIS comments 1-8-21 f long Surplus Pu Scoping EIS comments 1-8-21 A WIPP Timeline is also available here: WIPP-Timeline_Final
The Monday, January 25th public meeting will occur from 3 to 7 pm Mountain Standard Time. The Tuesday, January 26th meeting will occur from 5 to 9 pm Mountain Standard Time. You can participate by telephone, computer or other device. For connection information, links to the meeting presentation and fact sheets in both English and Spanish, and information about where to submit your comments, please visit https://www.energy.gov/nnsa/nnsa-nepa-reading-room, scroll down and click on Virtual Public Scoping Meetings for the Surplus Plutonium Disposition Program Environmental Impact Statement. As of this posting, the meeting presentation and fact sheets in English and Spanish are not available on the website….
Surplus plutonium is found in the form of pits, or the triggers for nuclear weapons. Another source is non-pit plutonium. Both must be converted to plutonium oxide, which is then blended with an unknown adulterant called “stardust.” The oxidation work would be done at the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). Conversion and blending is required for the plutonium to meet the waste acceptance criteria at WIPP.
Despite DOE’s plans, the National Academy of Sciences stated in a recent report that WIPP’s legal capacity can only hold waste long ago designated for disposal from DOE sites. Review of the Department of Energy’s Plans for Disposal of Surplus Plutonium in the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant at https://www.nap.edu/catalog/25593/review-of-the-department-of-energys-plans-for-disposal-of-surplus-plutonium-in-the-waste-isolation-pilot-plant
Over the last 25 years, several U.S. Presidents have designated more than 62 metric tons, or about 69 tons, of plutonium as surplus. 
Previously, DOE has proposed immobilizing it for disposal in a geologic repository other than WIPP and fabricating it into fuel for nuclear power plants. Another option is to continue to store it at the Pantex Plant in Texas, or the Savannah River Site in South Carolina.
DOE has also proposed building new facilities at the Savannah River Site, including a plutonium pit disassembly and conversion facility; a mixed-oxide fuel fabrication facility; and a waste solidification building. Billions of taxpayer dollars have been spent, but none of those facilities is in operation.
(wear a mask), socially distant, peaceful and non-violent vigils to Celebrate the Entry into Force of the Nuclear Weapons Ban Treaty on Friday, January 22nd?
across the street from the National Museum of Nuclear Science and History in the empty lot on Eubank Blvd. SE between La Entrada and Southern Blvd. SE. Organized by the Nuclear Issues Study Group (NISG). For more information and to view the livestreaming for those who cannot attend in person, please visit https://www.facebook.com/events/108487254449335
CCNS, with Veterans for Peace and others, will vigil with our banners declaring that nuclear weapons are now illegal on the corner of St. Francis Drive and Cerrillos Road.
CCNS, with Veterans for Peace and others, will vigil with our banners declaring that nuclear weapons are now illegal.
virtual celebration event at 8 pm MST. ICAN will go live from Geneva at 8:00 pm MST/ 21:00 CET Friday 22 January. Please invite all your friends, colleagues, and networks to sign up here: https://www.icanw.org/studio_2221
Please plan to join us in the celebrations that so many of us have been working for decades to achieve! CCNS is grateful for each and every one of you!!!
The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW or Nuclear Ban Treaty) enters into force in its 50 ratifying countries on 1/22/21. This is happy news, but what does this mean, exactly? What can we do to help eliminate nuclear weapons before they eliminate us? (This is the second edition of this short video. It has been edited for even greater clarity and accuracy — which made it a bit longer. Now 2 minutes) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Px-4RsKGE_A&feature=youtu.be
And here’s a list of other resources, opportunities to sign-on statements, and livestream events: 
DOE is breaking the promises it made to New Mexico in exchange for the state’s agreement to allow permanent disposal of some of the nation’s nuclear weapons’ waste con-taminated with plutonium or other transuranics.
The Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP), where this waste is being buried, is limited to accepting only 6.2 million cubic feet of waste and only waste contaminated with transuranic waste, not pure plutonium itself (surplus plutonium – surplus plutonium containers are shown above). DOE promised to build other repositories for the waste and the state permit provides that waste disposal must end in 2024.
Since WIPP began, everyone knew that its capacity was too small for all of the transuranic-contaminated waste existing even at that time. That’s one reason DOE pledged to create additional repositories.
Click on this image to see a YouTube video of this information
It was DOE’s responsibility to identify sites in other states, and construct additional repositories – a responsibility that DOE failed to meet, as these sites were never sought and never built. New Mexico has been left as the only repository, an option the State clearly rejected in the 1980s. DOE has no plans for any other repositories and now wants to bring additional surplus plutonium to WIPP in amounts that would require WIPP to expand and operate, essentially, forever.
Increasing the kinds of waste and the volume of waste disposed in WIPP as DOE’s surplus plutonium plans would do, will also increase the risk from the project both in the area around WIPP and to people on the transportation routes. WIPP has failed before when it released radioactive contamination in 2014. How would another release from the site or along the routes affect our traditional ranching, dairy, recreational, oil & gas, and other economies?
There are more than 500 oil & gas wells within 2.5 miles of WIPP
We were promised that the risk to our state would be limited by limiting the volume of waste, the types of waste and the time that WIPP would operate. Why should DOE be allowed to break that promise now?
Click here for a short & simple sample comment email
Click here for a longer, more detailed sample comment email
Click here for a WIPP timeline and summary of WIPP history
Donate by credit card through our GoFundMe page
Donate by check to
Southwest Research and Information Center
P.O. Box 4524
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87196-4524
Make the check out to SRIC and put Stop Forever WIPP in the memo line
Stop Forever WIPP is a coalition opposing the expansion of WIPP and is a project of SRIC, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. All donations are tax deductible.
This is the last of our four-part series about the United Nations’ Nuclear Weapons Ban Treaty. Friday, January 22nd, 2021 is the historic day when the Nuclear Weapons Ban Treaty enters into force and establishes in international law a categorical ban on nuclear weapons 
that may lead to a reduction in the U.S. nuclear arsenal. The purpose of the Treaty is, in part, to outlaw the development, manufacture, testing, possession, transfer, acquisition, stockpiling, use or threat of use of nuclear weapons. https://www.un.org/disarmament/wmd/nuclear/tpnw/ and https://www.icanw.org/here_are_five_examples_of_the_type_of_activities_that_will_be_illegal_under_international_law_on_22_january_2021
The Treaty was approved in July 2017 by 122 Nation States. On October 24th, 2020, Honduras was the fiftieth Nation State to sign and ratify it, which meant the Treaty would enter into force ninety days later, on January 22nd.
In previous weeks we discussed the Elimination of Nuclear Weapons http://nuclearactive.org/the-united-nations-nuclear-weapons-ban-treaty-to-enter-into-force-in-january/ , 
Victim Assistance and Environmental Remediation http://nuclearactive.org/the-united-nations-nuclear-weapons-ban-treaty-article-6-victim-assistance-and-environmental-remediation/, and International Cooperation http://nuclearactive.org/united-nations-nuclear-weapons-ban-treaty-article-7-international-cooperation-and-assistance/ . Today we look at Treaty provisions for three practical issues: the costs, the goal of universality, and the duration of membership and the means for withdraw.
Article 9, on Costs, says that costs of meetings shall be borne by States Parties. Costs for the required verification measures, for the destruction of nuclear weapons and for the elimination of nuclear-weapons programs, including “the elimination or conversion of all nuclear-weapons-related facilities” will be borne by the applicable States Parties.
Article 12, titled Universality, asks each State Party to encourage States not party to the Treaty to sign, ratify and accept it, with the goal of universal adherence of all States.
Finally, Article 17 considers the duration of membership. Paragraph One says, “This Treaty shall be of unlimited duration,” while Paragraphs Two and Three provide for orderly withdrawal if a State Party “decides that extraordinary events … have jeopardized the supreme interests of its country.”
Joni Arends, of CCNS, says, “The Treaty makes it possible for Americans to get out from under the heavy thumb of the nuclear weapons industry. We celebrate the Treaty’s entry into force and all the people who’ve worked toward this historical moment. We will continue our work to ensure the United States of America steps up, signs and ratifies the Treaty.”
This concludes our four-part series on the United Nations’ Nuclear Weapons Ban Treaty.
To celebrate the Treaty’s entry into force locally, please join us at the corner of St. Francis Drive and Cerrillos Road at noon on Friday, January 22nd to hold bright yellow banners declaring nuclear weapons are now illegal.
At 1 pm, people will travel from there to Ashley Pond in Los Alamos to extend the celebration. Join us there.
For more information and resources, please visit: Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance https://orepa.org/nuclear-ban-treaty-entry-into-force-resources/, Nukewatch (Wisconsin) https://nukewatchinfo.org/long-sought-anti-war-landmark-treaty-prohibiting-nuclear-weapons-becomes-law/, Nuclear Resister http://www.nukeresister.org/, and the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons https://www.icanw.org/ .
Did You Know about these Resources to Celebrate the Entry into Force of the Nuclear Weapons Ban Treaty?
CCNS, with Veterans for Peace and others, will be on the corner of St. Francis Drive and Cerrillos Road on Friday, January 22nd from noon to 1 pm with our banners declaring nuclear weapons are now illegal. At 1 pm we’ll be journeying to Ashley Pond in Los Alamos. Please plan to join us in the celebrations that so many of us have been working for decades to achieve! CCNS is grateful for each and every one of you!!!
And here’s a list of other resources, opportunities to sign-on statements, and livestream events:
DOE plans to dump the Nation’s nuclear weapons’ waste at WIPP
The Department of Energy (DOE) will soon publish a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) to allow disposal of 34 metric tons of so-called “surplus plutonium” at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) in New Mexico. (Surplus plutonium is pure or diluted, pure plutonium.)
The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) has stated that WIPP’s legal capacity would be exceeded by bringing that surplus plutonium to WIPP. This would break the social contract between DOE and New Mexico—promises the State wanted before agreeing to accept WIPP. The NAS had concerns about the violation of this social contract as well as about other obstacles to bringing so much surplus plutonium to WIPP.
Even U.S. Senator, Pete Domenici, a strong proponent of WIPP from its beginning, never wanted surplus plutonium waste to be buried at WIPP. In 2002 he said, “I want to ensure that high level … wastes can never be simply diluted in order to comply with criteria for WIPP disposal … [Such dilution] raises serious questions about our adherence to the same international controls on weapon-related materials that we expect other nations to follow.” Yet this is exactly what DOE is doing now in 2021.
Click here for a short & simple sample comment email
Click here for a longer, more detailed sample comment email
Click here for a WIPP timeline and summary of WIPP history
Donate by credit card through our GoFundMe page
Donate by check to
Southwest Research and Information Center
P.O. Box 4524
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87196-4524
Make the check out to SRIC and put Stop Forever WIPP in the memo line
Stop Forever WIPP is a coalition opposing the expansion of WIPP and is a project of SRIC, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. All donations are tax deductible.
This is the third of a four-part series about the United Nations’ Nuclear Weapons Ban Treaty. Friday, January 22, 2021 is the historic day when the Nuclear Weapons Ban Treaty enters into force and establishes in international law a categorical ban on nuclear weapons that may lead the United States of America to reduce and ultimately eliminate its nuclear arsenal. The purpose of the Treaty is, in part, to outlaw the development, manufacture, testing, possession, transfer, acquisition, stockpiling, use or threat of use … of nuclear weapons. https://www.un.org/disarmament/wmd/nuclear/tpnw/ and https://www.icanw.org/here_are_five_examples_of_the_type_of_activities_that_will_be_illegal_under_international_law_on_22_january_2021
The United Nations’ Nuclear Weapons Ban Treaty was approved in July 2017 by 122 nation states. On October 24, 2020, Honduras was the 50th nation-state to sign and ratify the Treaty, which meant the Treaty would enter into force ninety days later, on January 22.
The Treaty is composed of 20 official Articles. Last week we reviewed Article 6 about Victim Assistance and Environmental Remediation. http://nuclearactive.org/the-united-nations-nuclear-weapons-ban-treaty-article-6-victim-assistance-and-environmental-remediation/ This week, we summarize and present the six paragraphs of Article 7 on International Cooperation and Assistance.
Paragraph One asserts that the States will cooperate with each other to facilitate the implementation of the Treaty.
Paragraph Two says, “Each State Party shall have the right to seek and receive assistance, where feasible, from other States Parties. “
The third and fourth paragraphs detail specific types of assistance.
Paragraph Three says, “Each State that is in a position to do so shall provide technical, material and financial assistance to States Parties affected by nuclear-weapons use or testing.”
Paragraph Four says, “Each State Party in a position to do so shall provide assistance for the victims of the use or testing of nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices.”
In Paragraph Five are listed the names of some organizations that may provide assistance. The list makes clear the United Nations’ intention to encourage cooperation between civil society and government to reach the goals of the Treaty. The organizations include the International Committee of the Red Cross https://www.icrc.org/en/war-and-law/weapons , the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies https://media.ifrc.org/ifrc ,
or national Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies https://www.ifrc.org/en/what-we-do/disaster-management/responding/disaster-response-system/dr-tools-and-systems/red-cross-red-crescent-national-societies/ .
Finally, Paragraph Six of Article 7 affirms that, “a State Party that has used or tested nuclear weapons or any other nuclear explosive devices shall have a responsibility to provide adequate assistance to affected States Parties, for the purpose of victim assistance and environmental remediation.“
Next week, we’ll look at the general articles about the costs, universality, and duration of the Treaty; and how signatories may withdraw from the Treaty. We’ll also inform you of some of the upcoming local celebrations for the Treaty. For more information and resources, please visit : Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance https://orepa.org/nuclear-ban-treaty-entry-into-force-resources/ , and Nukewatch (Wisconsin) https://nukewatchinfo.org/long-sought-anti-war-landmark-treaty-prohibiting-nuclear-weapons-becomes-law/
“What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what
It is with a heavy heart that CCNS shares sad news about the passing of Noel Marquez on December 23, 2020 after a long illness. Noel was a muralist, artist, husband, father, and a comrade-in-arms in the non-violent struggle and challenges with the nuclear power and nuclear weapons industry. Noel created the beautiful mural at the top of CCNS’s Facebook page.
Surviving Noel are his wife Madelene, their 14-year old beautiful daughter Paikea (Pai), and their extended families.
Donations for Noel’s family are graciously welcomed. Send your check to Southwest Research and Information Center, P.O. Box 4524, Albuquerque, NM 87196-4524. Please write “Noel Family Fund” in the memo line.
Kevin Kamps, of Beyond Nuclear, wrote a thoughtful memorial to Noel, which is available at: http://www.beyondnuclear.org/home/2020/12/29/noel-marquez-presente.html
Another comrade-in-arms has passed on. On January 2, 2021, Western Shoshone Elder Carrie Dann passed on to the Spirit World. Elder Carrie was an activist working to protect Newe Sogobia, the Western Shoshone Nation’s homeland, from nuclear testing at the Nevada Test Site and high-level radioactive waste dumping at Yucca Mountain, Nevada.
Elder Carrie, and her sister, Mary, worked tirelessly to defend their Indigenous rights, land and grazing rights. Their challenge, U.S. v. Dann, went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, which continued for their entire lives. Their work was honored in many ways, including with the 1993 Right Livelihood Award.
Again, Beyond Nuclear has written a thoughtful memorial to Elder Carrie, which is available at: http://www.beyondnuclear.org/yucca-mountain/2021/1/4/western-shoshone-elder-carrie-dann-passes-on-to-the-spirit-w.html
Last week, CCNS began a four-part series about the United Nations’ Nuclear Weapons Ban Treaty, whose entry into force three weeks from now will advance the movement toward the future elimination of nuclear weapons. But first, a few words on the significance of the Treaty: Friday, January 22nd, 2021 will be a historic day for nuclear weapons. That is the date when the Nuclear Weapons Ban Treaty will begin to establish in international law a categorical ban on nuclear weapons 75 years after their development and first use. https://www.un.org/disarmament/wmd/nuclear/tpnw/
The purpose of the Treaty is to outlaw the development, manufacture, testing, possession, transfer, acquisition, stockpiling, use or threat of use, control or receipt, stationing or deployment of nuclear weapons. https://www.icanw.org/here_are_five_examples_of_the_type_of_activities_that_will_be_illegal_under_international_law_on_22_january_2021
The Nuclear Weapons Ban Treaty was approved in July 2017 by 122 nation states. The fiftieth nation state to sign and ratify the Treaty was Honduras, on October 24th of 2020, which meant the Treaty would enter into force ninety days later, on January 22nd of 2021. As of November 1st, 2020, 84 countries have become State Parties to the Treaty.
The Treaty itself is composed of 20 official Articles.
Last week we summarized Article 4, about the elimination of nuclear weapons. http://nuclearactive.org/the-united-nations-nuclear-weapons-ban-treaty-to-enter-into-force-in-january/
Today, we look at Article 6, which addresses essential Victim Assistance and Environmental Remediation. Each of its three paragraphs consists of a single long sentence, which we are quoting in their entirety.
Paragraph 1 of the Treaty’s Article 6 recognizes that in each nation, individuals may be suffering because of their exposure to radiation from nuclear weapons testing and use. It says, “Each State Party shall, with respect to individuals under its jurisdiction who are affected by the use or testing of nuclear weapons, in accordance with applicable international humanitarian and human rights law, adequately provide age- and gender-sensitive assistance, without discrimination, including medical care, rehabilitation and psychological support, as well as provide for their social and economic inclusion.”
Paragraph 2 recognizes that in each nation there may be degradation of the environment that needs to be corrected. Paragraph 2 says, “Each State Party, with respect to areas under its jurisdiction or control contaminated as a result of activities related to the testing or use of nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices, shall take necessary and appropriate measures towards the environmental remediation of areas so contaminated.”
Paragraph 3 concludes, saying, “The obligations under paragraphs 1 and 2 above shall be without prejudice to the duties and obligations of any other States under international law or bilateral agreements.”
Next week, we’ll discuss Article 7 about international cooperation and assistance.
Join the Entry Into Force (EIF) movement. Learn more at: International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons at https://www.icanw.org/ , Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance at https://orepa.org/, and the Nuclear Ban Treaty EIF facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/743982149793909/
Did You Know that CCNS welcomes your financial contributions?
* The CARES Act, which went into effect this spring, established a new above-the-line deduction for charitable giving? 
Individuals may write off up to $300 ($600 for couples) in cash donations to non-governmental organizations, such as CCNS, when filing their 2020 income tax return. You can make an electronic donation at http://nuclearactive.org/ or mail your check to: CCNS, PO Box 31147, Santa Fe, NM 87594.
Did You Know?
* That CCNS is in the process of appealing one of our cases to the United States Supreme Court on an issue of standing that may relate to the future success of many non-governmental organizations? We thank you in advance for your moral support and for your financial contributions in any amount you are able to give at this time. 
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* joining our amazing group of monthly contributors at http://nuclearactive.org/
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P.S. If you would like to receive our end-of-year fundraising letter to learn more about our on-going activities, including our case before the U.S. Supreme Court, please email us at ccns@nuclearactive.org and we’ll send it right to you.
January 22, 2021 will be a historic day for nuclear weapons. The United Nations’ Nuclear Weapons Ban Treaty will enter into force, establishing in international law a categorical ban on nuclear weapons 75 years after their development and first use. https://www.un.org/disarmament/wmd/nuclear/tpnw/ 
The CCNS Update will focus on the Treaty today and for the next three weeks. We’ll explore the timeline of the development of the Treaty over the past 75 years and explain how Treaty ratification will advance the movement toward future elimination of nuclear weapons in the United States. Each week we hope to include some language from the Treaty itself.
We begin by asking, What events needed to occur before the Treaty could enter into force? To answer this, we use the Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance fact sheet, which says, in part: The Treaty was approved at the UN in July 2017 by 122 nation states. According to the 
Treaty terms, 50 nation states had to sign and ratify it before it would enter into force. Entry into force would automatically happen 90 days after the 50th ratification was deposited at the UN. On October 24th, 2020, Honduras became the 50th nation to deposit its ratification at the UN. As of November 1, 2020, 84 nation states had signed the Treaty. https://orepa.org/nuclear-ban-treaty-entry-into-force-resources/
The Nuclear Weapons Ban Treaty, also known as the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, itself is composed of 20 official Articles covering ten pages. Today we’ll summarize the six paragraphs of Article 4, entitled, “Towards the total elimination of nuclear weapons.”
Paragraph 1 outlines a procedure for nations that at one time had nuclear weapons. They “shall cooperate with the competent international authority … for the purpose of verifying the irreversible elimination of its nuclear-weapon programme.”
Paragraph 2 addresses nations that possess nuclear weapons and provides for a plan to be “negotiated with the competent international authority … for approval.”
Paragraph 3 stipulates that after negotiations, a safeguards agreement will be concluded with the International Atomic Energy Agency, to assure that nuclear materials will not be diverted in any way.
Paragraph 4 asks that each nation that “has any nuclear weapons … shall ensure the prompt removal of such weapons, as soon as possible but not later than a deadline to be determined by the … States Parties.”
Paragraph 5 provides for regular reporting.
Paragraph 6 asks the competent international authority to verify the irreversible elimination of nuclear weapons programmes.
We will continue our presentation of the Nuclear Weapons Ban Treaty in the coming weeks. A copy of the Treaty is available at the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons website. https://www.icanw.org/the_treaty
established a new above-the-line deduction for charitable giving? Individuals may write off up to $300 ($600 for couples) in cash donations to non-governmental organizations, such as CCNS, when filing your 2020 income tax return? You can make an electronic donation at http://nuclearactive.org/ or mail your check to: CCNS, PO Box 31147, Santa Fe, NM 87594.
CCNS will put your donation to work right away as we continue our educational series about the Nuclear Weapons Ban Treaty and organizing local January 22, 2021 entry into force events.
The United Nations’ Nuclear Weapons Ban Treaty, or the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, goes into effect.
Sign up to receive emails about the work of the Nobel Peace Prize winner, the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) at https://www.icanw.org/
Stay tuned for commemoration events taking place in New Mexico and around the world! https://orepa.org/nuclear-ban-treaty-entry-into-force-resources/
The Department of Energy (DOE) published a notice about its plans to prepare an environmental impact statement for the disposal of 34 metric tons of radioactive surplus plutonium at the deep geologic Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP), located in southeastern New Mexico. DOE NOI Surplus Pu EIS FedReg 121620
DOE is proposing to dilute the plutonium before disposal at WIPP. But in a report earlier this year, the National Academy of Sciences stated that WIPP’s legal capacity can only hold waste long ago designated for disposal from DOE sites. Review of the Department of Energy’s Plans for Disposal of Surplus Plutonium in the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant at https://www.nap.edu/catalog/25593/review-of-the-department-of-energys-plans-for-disposal-of-surplus-plutonium-in-the-waste-isolation-pilot-plant
Over the last 25 years, several U.S. Presidents have designated more than 62 metric tons, or about 69 tons, of plutonium as surplus. Previously, DOE has proposed immobilizing it for disposal in a geologic repository other than WIPP and fabricating it into fuel for nuclear power plants. Another option is to continue to store it at the Pantex Plant in Texas, or the Savannah River Site in South Carolina.
DOE has also proposed building new facilities at the Savannah River Site, including a plutonium pit disassembly and conversion facility; a mixed-oxide fuel fabrication facility; and a waste solidification building. Billions of dollars have been spent, but none of those facilities is in operation. https://srswatch.org/ 
To begin a new environmental impact statement process, DOE asks the public to comment about what the scope of the statement should be. The scope will necessarily include alternative proposals, including a no action alternative.
A virtual public meeting will be held in January. Written scoping comments are due to DOE by February 1, 2021. CCNS will post sample public comments on our website after the first of the year.
In other news, Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) announced that it would postpone venting over 100,000 Curies of radioactive tritium from four Flanged Tritium Waste Containers, or FTWCs, until spring or summer 2021. LANL determined to delay the venting activities because winter is approaching and because the New Mexico Environment Department has not responded to LANL’s request for temporary authorization to vent.
LANL held two virtual public meetings about the proposal with over 200 people attending. LANL accepted questions but did not provide responses during the meeting. Their responses are now posted on the website. A fact sheet and powerpoint presentations are also available there. https://lanl.gov/environment/flanged-tritium-waste-containers.shtml
At the same time, the resistance is formidable. One influential example is the Tewa Women United petition that says the venting must be halted for the protection of vulnerable New Mexico communities. Over 3,000 people have signed it. https://tewawomenunited.org/2020/03/action-alert-protect-vulnerable-communities-halt-planned-tritium-release-at-lanl
LANL will continue to update its FTWC website. They expect to schedule a virtual meeting before any venting takes place, as has been recommended.
Semi-annual EPA Individual Stormwater Permit for LANL Public Meeting. For the draft agenda and more information, go to https://ext.em-la.doe.gov/ips/Home/PublicMeetings
DOE’s response is due to the DNFSB re: Technical Report 46, Potential Energetic Chemical Reaction Events Involving Transuranic Waste at Los Alamos National Laboratory, https://www.dnfsb.gov/documents/letters/potential-energetic-chemical-reaction-events-involving-transuranic-waste-los
New Mexico Legislature begins 60-day session. https://nmlegis.gov/
Sign up to receive emails about the work of the Nobel Peace Prize winner, the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) at https://www.icanw.org/
Stay tuned for commemoration events taking place in New Mexico and around the world! http://www.nukeresister.org/2020/11/08/invitation-to-get-involved-nuclear-ban-treaty-entry-into-force-action-day-january-22/
The Department of Energy (DOE) is hosting a briefing on Thursday, December 10th at 6 pm Mountain Standard Time about its plans to allow the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) to release plutonium and americium from the underground mine for several years.
https://wipp.energy.gov/ The first phase, occurring on December 17th, is a 4-hour test of the contaminated 700-C ductwork and fan. The fan is located on the surface near the exhaust shaft.
Since the February 14, 2014, radioactive release from the explosion of one or more nuclear waste drums in the underground, the airflow has been filtered to capture contamination. Also, the number of workers and equipment allowed in the mine has been reduced.
The explosion and release has cost taxpayers more than $2 billion. WIPP was closed for nearly three years. A Recovery Plan was issued in 2014 to direct future waste disposal operations.
Thursday’s briefing should answer some questions, including important ones submitted by Don Hancock, Nuclear Waste Program Director, of the Albuquerque-based Southwest Research and Information Center (SRIC). http://www.sric.org/
In written comments, SRIC asks, “Why the fundamental change in how to provide underground ventilation? The September 30, 2014 WIPP Recovery Plan was predicated on preventing further radiation releases by not using the 700 fans and restoring ventilation through a three-phase process of interim ventilation, supplemental ventilation, and permanent ventilation. The first two phases are operating, but the permanent system, now called [the Safety Significant Confinement Ventilation System, or the] SSCVS, will not meet the Fiscal Year 2021 operational date. Why the SSCVS has failed is not discussed in the documents, nor its revised schedule and costs. The fundamental change to disperse, not contain, contamination is not justified.”
SRIC also raises concerns about the structural and maintenance status of the fan because it has not been operated for almost seven years. 
SRIC asks about the budgets for the proposed test and for running the fan until the permanent system begins operating two years from now.
SRIC then addresses worker issues by asking, “What amount of reduced chemical exposure to underground workers will be achieved? The rationale does not include the range of chemical exposures received by underground workers in Fiscal Year 2020 and the expected amount 
to be received by underground workers when the 700-C fan operates. How will the actual worker exposures be measured and data [be made] publicly available?”
The briefing was announced on December 8th. Since the public had inadequate time to prepare, SRIC requested another interactive public meeting with more advance notice and more detailed materials before the 4-hour test occurs. sriccomm 700C120720
Semi-annual EPA Individual Stormwater Permit for LANL Public Meeting. For the draft agenda and more information, go to https://ext.em-la.doe.gov/ips/Home/PublicMeetings
DOE’s response is due to the DNFSB re: Technical Report 46, Potential Energetic Chemical Reaction Events Involving Transuranic Waste at Los Alamos National Laboratory, https://www.dnfsb.gov/documents/letters/potential-energetic-chemical-reaction-events-involving-transuranic-waste-los
New Mexico Legislature begins 60-day session. https://nmlegis.gov/ 
