Request an Extension of Time to Comment about Proposed LANL Electrical Line Across Caja del Rio and Rio Grande

Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) has a habit of releasing environmental documents requiring public comment during the winter holiday season. That habit continued this winter with not one, but two draft environmental assessments (EA).  One involves the hexavalent chromium plume in Mortandad Canyon.  The second, and the topic of this Update, is the proposed Electrical Power Capacity Upgrade Project where an approximately 14-mile, 115 kiloVolt overhead electrical line would be added to the two that already cross the Caja del Rio and the Rio Grande to the Pajarito Plateau, where LANL is located.  https://www.energy.gov/nepa/doeea-2199-los-alamos-national-laboratory-electrical-power-capacity-upgrade-project

LANL claims now it needs the additional power line to run its supercomputers.

But a September 2021 post in the Los Alamos Reporter by Ted Wyka, the Department of Energy National Nuclear Security Administration (DOE/NNSA) Manager of the Los Alamos Field Office, Wyka had an expanded list.  The uses included “state-of-the-air science experiments, innovation, and training in accelerator and neutron science, medical isotope production and research, and next-generation computing…”  https://losalamosreporter.com/2021/09/27/lanl-power-upgrade-would-provide-lab-los-alamos-county-with-reliable-and-redundant-electrical-power/

CCNS asks, “What has changed requiring LANL to limit the use of the electricity to the supercomputers?”  The draft EA doesn’t let the public know.

Two and half years ago, over 650 public comments were submitted about the proposed scope of the draft EA.  Since that time, public concerns about the care and preservation of the 106,000-acre Caja del Rio have grown.  For more information, please visit the beautiful website at https://cajadelrio.org/

As the proposed project would cross Santa Fe National Forest lands, LANL is requesting amendments to the 2022 Land Management Plan.  The request includes a Special Use Permit to establish a utility corridor specific to the proposed transmission line across National Forest lands.

CCNS has prepared a sample public comment letter you can use to modify and submit to LANL.  Comments are currently due to LANL by January 17, 2024.  231220 draft EPCU comments

There will be other opportunities for public comments in early January.

On Tuesday, January 9^th, the Santa Fe Board of County Commissioners will consider sending a letter to LANL asking for an extension of time to submit comments.  Please ask your Commissioner to support the letter.  https://www.santafecountynm.gov/committees/board-of-county-commissioners-bcc

Santa Fe’s City Council is considering a resolution opposing expanded plutonium pit production at LANL with friendly amendments to address concerns about the proposed electrical power capacity upgrade project.

On Wednesday, January 3^rd, Santa Fe’s Quality of Life Committee will consider amendments to the resolution.  Ask your councilors to support the amendments to include the EPCU Project concerns.  https://santafe.primegov.com/public/portal

On Wednesday, January 10^th, the Santa Fe City Council will consider the amended resolution at its first meeting of 2024.  Ask your councilors to support the amendments to include the EPCU Project concerns.   https://santafe.primegov.com/public/portal

1. Your financial support makes a difference!  Please help CCNS with an end-of-the-year tax-deductible contribution or a monthly sustaining donation.  Mail your check to CCNS, P. O. Box 31147, Santa Fe, NM  87594-1147, or use our e-contribution form on the right side of our home page at http://nuclearactive.org/ Your contribution keeps you informed through our weekly Update broadcast and social media postings.  Stay informed with the CCNS Media Network!  Many thanks!

2. Friday, December 22nd from noon to 1 pm MT ***  NEW LOCATION DUE TO RECONSTRUCTION OF GUADALUPE BRIDGE.  ***  Join the weekly peaceful protest for nuclear disarmament on the corners of Alameda and Sandoval in downtown Santa Fe with Veterans for Peace, CCNS, Nuclear Watch NM, Loretto Community, Pax Christi, Nonviolent Santa Fe, and others.

3. Wednesday, January 3^rd, the City of Santa Fe’s Quality of Life Committee will consider amendments to the proposed resolution opposing plutonium pit production at LANL. Ask your councilors to support the amendments to include the EPCU Project concerns.  https://santafe.primegov.com/public/portal

4. Monday, January 8^th – NM Public Regulation Commission hearing about the proposed New Mexico Gas Company LNG plant in Bernalillo County – public comments needed. For more info:  https://www.newenergyeconomy.org/lng , https://calendar.google.com/calendar/event?eid=MHU2N3B1ZTY3NXJ1dmU3bmw3M3BqN3ZyM2ggbm1wcmMxQG0&ctz=America/Denver

5. Tuesday, January 9^th –Santa Fe Board of County Commissioners will consider sending a letter to LANL asking for an extension of time to submit comments. Please ask your Commissioner to support the letter.  https://www.santafecountynm.gov/committees/board-of-county-commissioners-bcc

6. Wednesday, January 10^th – City of Santa Fe Council will consider the amended resolution opposing plutonium pit production at LANL to include concerns about the proposed Electric Power Capacity Upgrade, EPCU, Project at its first meeting of 2024. Ask your councilors to support the amendments to include the EPCU Project concerns.   https://santafe.primegov.com/public/portal

7. NEW DATE: Holloman 5 Anti-Drone Trial rescheduled to Thursday, January 11^th in Otero County, NM. https://www.veteransforpeace.org/our-work/working-groups/drones-robots-and-future-weapons-working-group http://www.shutdowndronewarfare.org/   https://www.codepink.org/shutdowndrone

8. Wednesday, January 17, 2024 – Public Comments due about Los Alamos National Laboratory Electrical Power Capacity Upgrade Project Draft Environmental Assessment (DOE/EA-2911) for construction and operation of a new 115 kilovolt (kV) power transmission line and upgrading LANL’s existing infrastructure. Sample public comments for you to use at http://nuclearactive.org/   The Draft EA is available in the NNSA NEPA Reading Room at: https://www.energy.gov/nnsa/nnsa-nepa-reading-room or directly at https://energy.gov/nepa/doeea-2199-los-alamos-national-laboratory-electrical-power-capacity-upgrade-project 

Tags: 2022 SFNF Land Management Plan, accelerator, BLM, Bureau of Land Management, Caja del Rio, Department of Energy, DOE, draft environmental assessment, EA, EPCU Project, hexavalent chromium plume, LANL, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos Reporter, medical isotope production and research, National Nuclear Security Administration, neutron science, next generation computing, NNSA, Pajarito Plateau, proposed Electrical Power Capacity Upgrade Project, Rio Grande, Santa Fe National Forest, SFNF, special use permit, Ted Wyka