Community members and Tribal advocates are standing together to say NO to the proposed expansion of Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). As part of a growing movement for environmental justice and accountability, local community organizations including Tewa Women United, Concerned Citizens for Nuclear Safety, Communities for Clean Water, Honor Our Pueblo Existence, and Three Sisters Collective launched the 2025 SovereignTea Community Conversations series that will end with a powerful hybrid session that will center public education, dialogue, and action around LANL’s ongoing and proposed nuclear weapons activities.

The hybrid session will be offered on Monday, April 7^th from 6 to 8 pm at the Tewa Women United offices at 1003 East Fairview Lane, in Española.  Please register for the hybrid session at: bit.ly/4iM42I0

This session will focus on the proposed venting of tens of thousands of curies of radioactive tritium into the air from four Flanged Tritium Waste Containers stored at LANL and the gendered health impacts of radiation.  https://tewawomenunited.org/2024/11/press-release-new-report-reveals-lanl-tritium-venting-could-have-triple-the-radiation-exposure-to-infants-compared-to-adults

Dr. Arjun Makhijani, Ph.D., and President of the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research, will discuss on Zoom the latest research about the dangers of LANL releasing radioactive tritium into the air, its impacts on pregnant women, the fetus and the environment.  https://ieer.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Arjun-Makhijani-Curriculum-Vita-2022-07-09.pdf,       https://ieer.org/projects/healthy-from-the-start/

The workshop will also focus on how the Draft Site-Wide Environmental Impact Statement (SWEIS) developed by the Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (DOE NNSA) seeks to justify significantly expanded LANL operations through 2040—despite mounting concerns about the compounding environmental, human, and cultural costs.  There will be time for participants to write and submit their own public comments. These comments will be sent directly to DOE NNSA, ensuring local and Tribal voices are heard before the April 10^th public comment deadline.

On Sunday, March 30, 2025 a workshop was held in Santa Fe.  The presentations covered the National Environmental Policy Act requirements, an overview of the SWEIS process, nuclear waste storage and disposal, transportation, cleanup, and impacts to local communities and the environment.  It was recorded and will be posted soon.

In the meantime, Honor Our Pueblo Existence and Concerned Citizens for Nuclear Safety have created the LANL SWEIS Action Page to make submitting public comments simple and accessible.  Once on the Action Page, you may edit the sample comment to include your concerns, stories and state your commitment to protecting our communities, health, lands, and future.

Now is the time to act!  Join us in urging for meaningful Tribal consultation, environmental safeguards, and long-overdue protections and accountability.

To learn more about LANL’s expansion plans for fabricating plutonium triggers, or pits, for nuclear weapons as detailed in the draft LANL SWEIS, check out:

• The informative February 6th Nuclear Watch New Mexico draft LANL SWEIS workshop with a focus on plutoninum pit production at https://nukewatch.org/2025/02/07/nukewatch-los-alamos-lab-site-wide-eis-workshop/ and
• The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) has prepared a Public Comment Guide: Hold LANL Accountable for your use. This public comment period is a chance for the scientific community and the public to demand that LANL takes the necessary steps to ensure workers, the public, and the environment are safe.  Click here to access the Public Comment Guide. Use the guide to prepare and submit your public comment, and let UCS know when you have done so by using this report back form.

1. Join us on Friday, April 4^th from noon to 1 pm at the intersection of East Alameda and Sandoval for the weekly one-hour peaceful protest for nuclear disarmament. 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 and join in the conversation for nuclear disarmament. 

2. Friday, April 4^th from 1:30 to 4:30 pm – Celebration of the Life of Our Friend Ken Mayers (1937 to 2025). Roberto Roibal provided this information on behalf of Pam Gilchrist and Family:

Friends,
The family of Ken Mayers invites you to a Celebration of Life and Memorial for Ken Mayers, in Santa Fe, New Mexico, on Friday, April 4, 2025.

It will begin at the No Nukes Vigil weekly peaceful protest at the corner of Sandoval and West Alameda from noon to 1 pm.

From 1:30 to 2:30 pm, a potluck lunch will be shared at the Fellowship Hall at the UU Congregation, 107 W. Barcelona Street.  Tables will be available for literature from the groups Ken was involved with.  A family video will be shared.

At 2:30 pm, The Raging Grannies will lead the group into Fogelson Hall for the Service.  Rev. Gail Marriner will officiate.

For those who can’t attend in person, at 2:30 pm there will be a livestream memorial by Rev. Gail.  Click this link at 2:30 for the livestream:
https://uusantafe.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2905fac0763625a2ccbaf9ab4&id=f709758296&e=eec4c110b1

From 3:45 to 4:30 pm, storytelling will continue over dessert, tea and coffee, provided by Salud Catering of Santa Fe.

The memorial announcement is attached, as well as an article from the Santa Fe New Mexican about Ken’s life, dated February 19, 2025.  https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/vietnam-veteran-remembered-as-advocate-for-peace/article_ad16ca54-ed39-11ef-a9d2-7fd393ad5f12.html

Respectfully,
ℜoberto ℜoibal for Pam Gilchrist and family
  

 Please contact Roberto with any questions or concerns at roibal@mail.mayfirst.org

3. Monday, April 7^th from 6 to 8 pm – in person and virtual SovereignTea Community Conversation at Tewa Women United offices at 1003 East Fairview Lane, Española, NM. Focus:  draft LANL SWEIS comments (due Thursday, April 10^th), including LANL’s proposed venting of radioactive tritium into the air, the proposed Electrical Power Capacity Upgrade Transmission Project, and the gendered health impacts of radiation.  Registration at:bit.ly/4iM42I0

 Honor Our Pueblo Existence and Concerned Citizens for Nuclear Safety have created the LANL SWEIS Action Page to make submitting public comments simple and accessible. Members of the public can customize a template comment with their stories and commitment to protecting our communities, health, lands, and future.

NOW IS THE TIME TO ACT! Join us in urging for meaningful Tribal consultation, environmental safeguards, and long-overdue protections and accountability.

4. Thursday, April 17^th from 5:30 pm to 8 pm at the New Mexico Veterans Memorial, 1100 Louisiana Blvd. SE – virtual and in-person – Kirtland Air Force Base Bulk Fuels Facility Project Public Meeting. The poster session will begin at 5:30 pm and the meeting will start at 6 pm.

Learn about the work to remove groundwater contamination caused by a historic leak at the old Base Bulk Fuels Facility.  Connect to the meeting by:

Option 1: Copy this url into your web browser: https://www.zoomgov.com/j/1608583654

Option 2: From ZoomGov App or meeting search on web-browser at zoomgov.com, enter Meeting ID: 160 858 3654.

Option 3: Telephone (audio only) – also use if computer speakers are not available.  Dial: (551) 285-1373 or (669) 254-5252. Spanish Assist line: (415) 449-4000.  Meeting ID: 160 858 3654.

Option 4: One tap mobile: 6692545252, 1608583654#

For more information, please contact 377th Air Base Wing Public Affairs at (505) 846-5991 or 377ABW.PA@us.af.mil. Community members may review Air Force Environmental Restoration Program documents by visiting the Kirtland AFB website at https://www.kirtland.af.mil/Home/Environment/ or the U.S. Air Force Civil Engineer Center Administrative Record website at AF Administrative Record (https://ar.afcec-cloud.af.mil).

5. SHUT DOWN DRONE WARFARE – 16 Years of Drone Resistance – Join the Spring Action Week, April 20 to 26^th – Holloman Drone Training Base, Alamogordo, NM. For more information, https://www.shutdowndronewarfare.org/

Community members and Tribal advocates are standing together to say NO to the proposed expansion of Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). As part of a growing movement for environmental justice and accountability, local community organizations including Tewa Women United, Concerned Citizens for Nuclear Safety, Communities for Clean Water, Honor Our Pueblo Existence, and Three Sisters Collective are launching the 2025 SovereignTea Community Conversations series—beginning with two powerful sessions that will center public education, dialogue, and action around LANL’s ongoing and proposed nuclear weapons activities.

These workshops will focus on the Draft Site-Wide Environmental Impact Statement (SWEIS) being developed by the Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (DOE NNSA), which seeks to justify significantly expanded LANL operations through 2040—despite mounting concerns about the compounding environmental, human, and cultural costs. Each session will provide background on the SWEIS process, proposed impacts to local communities, and time for participants to write and submit their own public comments. These comments will be sent directly to DOE NNSA, ensuring local and Tribal voices are heard before the April 10^th public comment deadline.

Honor Our Pueblo Existence and Concerned Citizens for Nuclear Safety have created the LANL SWEIS Action Page to make submitting public comments simple and accessible. Members of the public can customize a template comment with their stories and commitment to protecting our communities, health, lands, and future.

NOW IS THE TIME TO ACT! Join us in urging for meaningful Tribal consultation, environmental safeguards, and long-overdue protections and accountability.  https://actionnetwork.org/letters/public-comment-for-the-draft-los-alamos-national-laboratory-site-wide-environmental-impact-statement-draft-lanl-sweis?source=direct_link&

The SovereignTea Community Conversations Schedule:

The first session will be offered in-person on Sunday, March 30, 2025 from 1 to 5 pm at the Three Sisters Collective Studio at 1240 Calle de Comercio in Santa Fe, New Mexico and will focus on the National Environmental Policy Act requirements and provide an overview of the SWEIS process, nuclear waste storage and disposal, transportation, cleanup, and impacts to local communities and the environment. This session will be recorded and it will be posted soon.

The second session will be offered in-person and virtually on Monday, April 7^th from 6 to 8 pm at the Tewa Women United offices at 1003 East Fairview Lane, Española, New Mexico. It will focus on LANL’s proposed venting of radioactive tritium into the air, the Electrical Power Capacity Upgrade Transmission Project, and the gendered health impacts of radiation.  Anyone can register for either or both sessions at: bit.ly/4iM42I0

To learn more about LANL’s expansion plans for fabricating the plutonium triggers, or pits, for nuclear weapons as detailed in the draft LANL SWEIS, check out:

• The informative February 6th Nuclear Watch New Mexico draft LANL SWEIS workshop with a focus on plutoninum pit production at https://nukewatch.org/2025/02/07/nukewatch-los-alamos-lab-site-wide-eis-workshop/ and
• TODAY, MARCH 27 at 2 pm MT – The Union of Concerned Scientists Public Comment Traiing:  Hold Los Alamos National Laboratory Accountable for Expansion Risks.  Register at https://secure.ucs.org/a/2025-3-27-lanl-public-comment-training

1. Join us on Friday, March 28th from noon to 1 pm at the intersection of East Alameda and Sandoval for the weekly one-hour peaceful protest for nuclear disarmament. 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 and join in the conversation for nuclear disarmament. 

2. Sunday, March 30^th from noon to 3 pm – Save Our VA/Hands Off VA protest against firing 83,000 VA Employees and privatizing VA.  Join the protest at the ABQ VA Medical Center, 1501 San Pedro Dr SE, Albuquerque, NM   87108.

3. Thursday, April 3^rd at 5 pm MT Breaking the Silence: A Project of the National Council of Elders webinar – “Courage to Act in the Face of Fear – What can the spirit of the radical Martin Luther King teach us in this moment? Strategies and Resources for Resistance.”

Participants include activist/elder Mandy Carter, Joe Worthy Director of Education at the Albert Einstein Institution, longtime Southern organizer and author Suzanne Pharr and Ash-Lee Woodward Henderson, former co-executive director of the Highlander Center.

Register:  https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_M1L1jUNVSsKYwF6huHmibw#/registration

4. Friday, April 4^th at noon to 4:30 at two venues – Celebration of the Life of Our Friend Ken Mayers (1937 to 2025). Roberto Roibal provided this information on behalf of Pam Gilchrist and Family:

Friends,
The family of Ken Mayers invites you to a Celebration of Life and Memorial for Ken Mayers, in Santa Fe, New Mexico, on Friday, April 4, 2025.

It will begin at the No Nukes Vigil weekly peaceful protest at the corner of Sandoval and West Alameda from noon to 1 pm.

From 1:30 to 2:30 pm, a potluck lunch will be shared at the Fellowship Hall at the UU Congregation, 107 W. Barcelona Street.  Tables will be available for literature from the groups Ken was involved with.  A family video will be shared.

At 2:30 pm, The Raging Grannies will lead the group into Fogelson Hall for the Service.  Rev. Gail Marriner will officiate.

For those who can’t attend in person, at 2:30 pm there will be a livestream memorial by Rev. Gail.  Click this link at 2:30 for the livestream:
https://uusantafe.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2905fac0763625a2ccbaf9ab4&id=f709758296&e=eec4c110b1

From 3:45 to 4:30 pm, storytelling will continue over dessert, tea and coffee, provided by Salud Catering of Santa Fe.

The memorial announcement is attached, as well as an article from the Santa Fe New Mexican about Ken’s life, dated February 19, 2025.  https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/vietnam-veteran-remembered-as-advocate-for-peace/article_ad16ca54-ed39-11ef-a9d2-7fd393ad5f12.html

Respectfully,
ℜoberto ℜoibal for Pam Gilchrist and family
  

Please contact Roberto with any questions or concerns at roibal@mail.mayfirst.org

5. Monday, April 7^th from 6 to 8 pm – in person and virtual SovereignTea Community Conversation at Tewa Women United offices at 1003 East Fairview Lane, Española, NM. Focus:  draft LANL SWEIS comments (due Thursday, April 10^th), including LANL’s proposed venting of radioactive tritium into the air, the proposed Electrical Power Capacity Upgrade Transmission Project, and the gendered health impacts of radiation.  Registration at:  bit.ly/4iM42I0

Honor Our Pueblo Existence and Concerned Citizens for Nuclear Safety have created the LANL SWEIS Action Page to make submitting public comments simple and accessible. Members of the public can customize a template comment with their stories and commitment to protecting our communities, health, lands, and future.

NOW IS THE TIME TO ACT! Join us in urging for meaningful Tribal consultation, environmental safeguards, and long-overdue protections and accountability.

6. Thursday, April 17^th from 5:30 pm to 8 pm at the New Mexico Veterans Memorial, 1100 Louisiana Blvd. SE – virtual and in-person – Kirtland Air Force Base Bulk Fuels Facility Project Public Meeting. The poster session will begin at 5:30 pm and the meeting will start at 6 pm.

Learn about the work to remove groundwater contamination caused by a historic leak at the old Base Bulk Fuels Facility.  Connect to the meeting by:

Option 1: Copy this url into your web browser: https://www.zoomgov.com/j/1608583654

Option 2: From ZoomGov App or meeting search on web-browser at zoomgov.com, enter Meeting ID: 160 858 3654.

Option 3: Telephone (audio only) – also use if computer speakers are not available.  Dial: (551) 285-1373 or (669) 254-5252. Spanish Assist line: (415) 449-4000.  Meeting ID: 160 858 3654.

Option 4: One tap mobile: 6692545252, 1608583654#

For more information, please contact 377th Air Base Wing Public Affairs at (505) 846-5991 or 377ABW.PA@us.af.mil. Community members may review Air Force Environmental Restoration Program documents by visiting the Kirtland AFB website at https://www.kirtland.af.mil/Home/Environment/ or the U.S. Air Force Civil Engineer Center Administrative Record website at AF Administrative Record (https://ar.afcec-cloud.af.mil).

7. SHUT DOWN DRONE WARFARE – 16 Years of Drone Resistance – Join the Spring Action Week, April 20 to 26^th – Holloman Drone Training Base, Alamogordo, NM. For more information, https://www.shutdowndronewarfare.org/

Public comments for the draft Site-Wide Environmental Impact Statement for Continued Operations at Los Alamos National Laboratory are currently due on Thursday, April 10th.  Tewa Women United, Honor Our Pueblo Existence, CCNS, Communities for Clean Water, and the Union of Concerned Scientists will host workshops to assist you in the preparation and submission of your comments.  Comments may be submitted to LANLSWEIS@nnsa.doe.gov

The 1,200 page draft SWEIS attempts to analyze the environmental, social, economic and health impacts of the proposed fabrication of 30 plutonium triggers for nuclear weapons annually at LANL until 2040.  https://www.energy.gov/nepa/articles/doeeis-0552-draft-environmental-impact-statement

The three workshops will help you compose and submit your comments.

The first workshop will be held in person and virtually on Monday, March 24th at the offices of Tewa Women United at 1003 East Fairview Lane in Española from 6 to 8 pm Mountain Time.  It will focus on the environmental justice impacts to communities of continuing LANL operations.  There is a limit of 20 participants for the in-person option.

Arjun Makhijani, President of the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research, or IEER, will present by zoom the recently completed technical reports about the proposed venting of radioactive hydrogen, or tritium, from four Flanged Tritium Waste Containers currently stored at LANL’s Area G waste site.   

The second workshop is virtual only and will be hosted by the Union of Concerned Scientists on Thursday, March 27th from 2 to 3 pm Mountain Time.  It is titled, “Learn to Advocate Against Unnecessary Nuclear Weapons Infrastructure” and will suggest how to hold LANL accountable for expansion risks.  It will focus primarily on how pit production is driving LANL’s expansion and how the NNSA is violating the intent of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).  Register at https://secure.ucs.org/a/2025-3-27-lanl-public-comment-training-aps?kiosk=true

The third workshop will be held by Concerned Citizens for Nuclear Safety, Honor Our Pueblo Existence and Communities for Clean Water on Sunday, March 30th  from 1 pm to 5 pm at the Three Sisters Collective Studio at 1350 Calle de Comercio, Unit A, in Santa Fe.  There will be a 30-minute break between 2:30 pm and 3 pm.  The workshop will be filmed and be posted on the web. 

Myrriah Gómez, author of Nuclear Nuevo México:  Colonialism and the Effects of the Nuclear Industrial Complex on Nuevomexicanos, will talk about the public process required by NEPA.  Additional speakers and topics will be announced soon.

Sample public comments, talking points, fact sheets, calls to action and other organizing tools will be made available for your use.

To pre-register for the March 24th and 30th workshops, please go to:  http://bit.ly/4iM42I0

In the meantime, please check out the informative February 6th Nuclear Watch New Mexico draft LANL SWEIS workshop at https://nukewatch.org/2025/02/07/nukewatch-los-alamos-lab-site-wide-eis-workshop/

1. Join us on Friday, March 21st from noon to 1 pm at the intersection of East Alameda and Sandoval for the weekly one-hour peaceful protest for nuclear disarmament. 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 and join in the conversation for nuclear disarmament. 

2. Saturday, March 22^nd – World Water Day – an annual United Nations Observance focuses on the importance of freshwater. “World Water Day celebrates water and raises awareness of the 2.2 billion people living without access to safe water. It is about taking action to tackle the global water crisis. A core focus of World Water Day is to support the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 6: water and sanitation for all by 2030.”  https://www.unwater.org/our-work/world-water-day   

3. United Nations Monday, March 24^th at 5:30 pm MDT virtual event – A New Generation of Nuclear Lies: Small Modular Reactors and Nuclear Plant Reopenings/Relicensing.  Speakers:  Paul Gunter, M.V. Ramana, and Linda Pentz Gunter.  Register now at https://masspeace.us/NuclearLies

4. Thursday, April 3^rd at 5 pm MT  – Breaking the Silence: A Project of the National Council of Elders webinar – “Courage to Act in the Face of Fear – What can the spirit of the radical Martin Luther King teach us in this moment? Strategies and Resources for Resistance.”

Participants include activist/elder Mandy Carter, Joe Worthy Director of Education at the Albert Einstein Institution, longtime Southern organizer and author Suzanne Pharr and Ash-Lee Woodward Henderson, former co-executive director of the Highlander Center.

 Register:  https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_M1L1jUNVSsKYwF6huHmibw#/registration

5. Friday, April 4^th at noon to 4:30 at two venues – Celebration of the Life of Ken Mayers (1937 to 2025). The following is from Roberto Roibal on behalf of Pam Gilchrist and Family:

Friends,

The family of Ken Mayers invites you to a Celebration of Life and Memorial for Ken Mayers, in Santa Fe, New Mexico. It will be on Friday, April 4, 2025 starting at Noon, and will finish by 4:30pm. Please see the attached announcement for details.

For those who can’t attend in person, at 2:30pm there will be a livestream memorial by Rev. Gail Marriner. Click this link at 2:30 for the livestream:
https://uusantafe.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2905fac0763625a2ccbaf9ab4&id=f709758296&e=eec4c110b1

Santa Fe Veterans for Peace founder protested globally
‘Ken was basically fearless’ in confronting authorities for causes he believed in – 2025-02-19NewMexArticle-KenProtests

The memorial announcement is attached, as well as an article from the Santa Fe New Mexican about Ken’s life, dated February 19, 2025.  https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/vietnam-veteran-remembered-as-advocate-for-peace/article_ad16ca54-ed39-11ef-a9d2-7fd393ad5f12.html

Respectfully,
ℜoberto ℜoibal for Pam Gilchrist and family
  

Please contact Roberto with any questions or concerns at roibal@mail.mayfirst.org

Public comments for the draft Site-Wide Environmental Impact Statement for Continued Operations at Los Alamos National Laboratory are currently due on Thursday, April 10th.  CCNS, Tewa Women United, Three Sisters Collective, Communities for Clean Water and others will host two workshops to assist you in preparing your comments.

The first workshop will be held in person and virtually on Monday, March 24th at the offices of Tewa Women United at 1003 East Fairview Lane in Española from 6 pm to 8 pm.  It will focus on environmental justice and the impacts of continuing LANL operations on communities.  There is a limit of 20 participants for the in-person option.  https://tewawomenunited.org/

Arjun Makhijani, President of the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research, or IEER, will present by zoom updated and completed technical reports about the proposed venting of radioactive hydrogen, or tritium, from four Flanged Tritium Waste Containers, FTWCs, currently stored at LANL’s Area G waste site.  https://ieer.org/

Chenoa Scippio, the Tewa Women United Environmental Justice Program Project Coordinator, will present another matter of grave public concern.  She will speak about LANL’s proposed Electrical Power Capacity Upgrade Project to install a third electrical line across the sacred Caja del Rio Plateau.  https://tewawomenunited.org/

The second workshop on Sunday, March 30 from 1 pm to 5 pm will focus on Weapons and the Impact on Communities.  It will be held in person at Three Sisters Collective Studio at 1350 Calle de Comercio, Unit A, in Santa Fe.  There will be a 30-minute break between 2:30 pm and 3 pm.  The workshop will be filmed and be posted on the web.  https://threesisterscollective.org/

Myrriah Gómez, author of Nuclear Nuevo México:  Colonialism and the Effects of the Nuclear Industrial Complex on Nuevomexicanos, will talk about the public processes available in the National Environmental Policy Act as implemented in the LANL SWEIS process, with a focus on providing comments about the final SWEIS document.  https://uapress.arizona.edu/book/nuclear-nuevo-mexico

Joni Arends, a co-founder of CCNS, will give an overview of timelines for previous SWEISs and note that LANL says this current SWEIS will be in effect until 2040.  https://nuclearactive.org/

Ryan Ramaker, the Tewa Women United Environmental Justice Program Project Coordinator, will include key facts about LANL’s proposed water use, air emissions, waste generation and other related issues.  https://tewawomenunited.org/

Additional speakers will be confirmed shortly.

Sample public comments, talking points, fact sheets, calls to action and other organizing tools will be made available for your use.

To pre-register for the workshops, please go to:  http://bit.ly/4iM42I0

For more information:  https://nuclearactive.org/public-comment-period-for-draft-lanl-sweis-extended-to-april-10th/

Archived materials from the 2005 – 2008 Clean Up, Don’t Build Up Campaign – The draft SWEIS for LANL:  https://www.nuclearactive.org/docs/2005SWEISbackground.html  These pages include additional information about 1999 final LANL SWEIS.

1. Join us on Friday, March 14^th from noon to 1 pm at the intersection of East Alameda and Sandoval for the weekly one-hour peaceful protest for nuclear disarmament. 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 and join in the conversation for nuclear disarmament. 

2. Thursday, March 13^th at 5:30 pm at Los Alamos Nature Center, “Electrification Town Hall.” How will Los Alamos County handle growing electric demands?  What if everyone goes all in on electric?  What changes will be made to the grid?  More information at https://www.losalamosnm.us/Events-Directory/Town-hall-meeting-on-electrification

 CCNS questions: Will the Electrical Power Capacity Upgrade (EPCU) Project be needed with the import of 170 MW from the Foxtail Flats Solar + Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) facility in San Juan County?  How much electrical energy will be used to support the planned expanded plutonium pit production at LANL? 

3. Friday, March 21^st – Uniting Humanity for Peace, Justice, and Inclusion. Message from Ghassan Shahrour, MD, International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW)

Dear Colleagues,

March 21st epitomizes the “day of days,” representing a profound convergence of diverse celebrations and observances resonating on local, regional, and global scales. This day serves as a focal point for advocating crucial global issues, including the pursuit of peace and harmony. In 2025, its significance is greater than ever, as the world faces escalating environmental challenges, deepening conflicts, widespread injustice, the proliferation of arms, and wars that obstruct the path to peace. Racial discrimination, apartheid, and ethnic cleansing continue to threaten human dignity and unity, making the calls for justice, coexistence, and reconciliation more urgent than ever.

This day also serves as an opportunity for governments, civil societies, media, the private sector, and organizations focused on peace, justice, environmental sustainability, disability rights, human rights, disarmament, and culture to come together in a united effort. By collaborating, these organizations can amplify their impact, raising awareness and advocating for the necessary actions to address the world’s most pressing challenges. Through such cooperation, they can enhance each other’s efforts and achieve far-reaching results in fostering global peace, justice, and unity.

Among the key observances, the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing fight against prejudice and injustice. In a world where intolerance and discrimination persist, this day underscores the necessity of fostering environments of tolerance and respect—fundamental pillars of peace and human security.

World Poetry Day adds a creative dimension, offering a voice to the marginalized and promoting dialogue and understanding through the power of words. Amid growing divisions, and the spread of disinformation and misinformation, poetry remains a universal language that bridges cultures, inspires change, and celebrates diversity.

The International Day of Forests highlights the interconnectedness of all life and the urgent need to protect nature. Environmental degradation, climate change, and deforestation exacerbate global inequalities and conflicts, making the preservation of forests essential for both ecological balance and global stability.

World Down Syndrome Day advocates for inclusion and acceptance, values essential for building peaceful societies where every individual has the right to thrive. This day reminds us that we are one, though we are not the same. As conflicts and crises disproportionately affect the most vulnerable, it reinforces the importance of fostering inclusive and empowering communities.

International Nowruz Day, recognized by UNESCO and the UN, symbolizes renewal, reconciliation, and the hope for a better future. In times of war and division, Nowruz’s message of harmony and goodwill among diverse cultures is more relevant than ever, reinforcing the importance of unity and peaceful coexistence.

World Puppetry Day also celebrates puppetry as a global art form that preserves cultural heritage, educates communities, and fosters social change. It promotes storytelling, creativity, and advocacy through performances, workshops, and diverse awareness campaigns. Puppetry serves as a powerful tool for entertainment, education, and humanitarian causes worldwide.

March 21st also marks Mother’s Day in the Arab region—a time to honor and appreciate the remarkable mothers who nurture families and communities, often serving as pillars of resilience and peace in the face of adversity.

As these international observances intersect, they weave a rich tapestry of compassion, activism, and celebration, reinforcing the urgent need for a more just and peaceful world.

On this special day, I extend warm wishes to all, embracing the spirit of the “Day of Days.”

Let us reaffirm our collective commitment to building a future where justice, equality, and peace prevail—everywhere and for all.

All the best

Ghassan Shahrour, MD

ghassan.dr@gmail.com

4. Monday, March 24^th at 5:30 pm MDT virtual event – A New Generation of Nuclear Lies: Small Modular Reactors and Nuclear Plant Reopenings/Relicensing.  Speakers:  Paul Gunter, M.V. Ramana, and Linda Pentz Gunter.  Register now at https://masspeace.us/NuclearLies

5. Thursday, March 27^th from 2 to 3 MDT – SAVE the DATE! The Union of Concerned Scientists invites you to a training webinar on how to write and submit a comment to hold Los Alamos National Laboratory accountable for expansion risks and advocate for proper protection of the public and the environment.  To register:  https://secure.ucsusa.org/a/2025-3-27-lanl-public-comment-training?ms=TAF

Did you know that the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty between the U.S. and Russia, known as the New START, expires on February 5, 2026?  It’s time for the U.S. and Russia to get back to the table to negotiate for a world without nuclear weapons!

New START is one of the few remaining nuclear arms control treaties.  Key Congressional leaders, Representative Bill Foster of Illinois and Senator Ed Markey of Massachusetts, have introduced House Resolution 100 and Senate Resolution 61, respectively, that call for negotiations with Russia and China to end the dangerous nuclear brinkmanship that keeps the world on a knife’s edge.  https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-resolution/100 and https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-resolution/61  It’s time to maintain and build the needed arms control agreements, such as the original 2011 START.  https://www.state.gov/new-start-treaty

In 2011, the global inventory of nuclear warheads was estimated to be about 20,000.  https://ourworldindata.org/nuclear-weapons  New START limits the U.S. and Russia to:

* 700 deployed intercontinental ballistic missiles, or ICBMs, deployed submarine-launched ballistic missiles, or SLBMs, and deployed heavy bombers equipped for nuclear armaments;

* 1,550 nuclear warheads on deployed ICBMs, deployed SLBMs, and deployed heavy bombers equipped for nuclear armaments  – each such heavy bomber is counted as one warhead toward this limit; and

* 800 deployed and non-deployed ICBM launchers, SLBM launchers, and heavy bombers equipped for nuclear armaments.

The proposed House and Senate resolution includes language about current events.  It:

• Condemns the Russian Federation’s escalatory nuclear rhetoric and veiled threats on the potential use of nuclear weapons to further its invasion of Ukraine.
• Condemns the Russian Federation’s purported suspension of the New START Treaty.
• Calls for the Russian Federation to promptly return to full implementation of New START, including on-site inspections, provision of treaty-mandated notifications and data, and resumption of Bilateral Consultative Commission meetings.
• Calls on the Trump Administration to continue to engage the People’s Republic of China in further bilateral talks on nuclear risk reduction and arms control, and to pursue new multilateral arms control efforts.
• Calls on the Trump Administration to continue to pursue nuclear arms control and risk reduction dialogue with the Russian Federation to maintain strategic stability, ensure the conflict in Ukraine does not escalate to nuclear use, and avoid an unrestrained nuclear arms race.

CCNS urges you to contact your U.S. Senators and Congressperson and request they co-sponsor House Resolution 100 and Senate Resolution 61 that call for serious negotiations with Russia and China to avoid an unrestrained nuclear arms race.

1. Join us on Friday, March 7^th from noon to 1 pm at the intersection of East Alameda and Sandoval for the weekly one-hour peaceful protest for nuclear disarmament. 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 and join in the conversation for nuclear disarmament. 

2. Tuesday, March 11^th – 14^th anniversary of Fukushima– read “Remembering Fukushima and American Amnesia,” by Marilyn Elie, Indian Point Safe Energy Coalition. https://www.sierraclub.org/atlantic/lower-hudson/remembering-fukushima-and-american-amnesia

3. Wednesday, March 12^th at 3 to 4 pm – An in-person talk with Sean J. Patrick Carney in the Pete V. Domenici Building at the New Mexico History Museum, 113 Lincoln Avenue, Santa Fe, NM. The talk will cover nuclearism and the cultural legacy of nuclear history adapted from his Time Zero

Time Zero is a sonic talk on nuclearism, its aesthetics, and its influence on the paranoiac cultural architecture of postwar America. From the first nuclear detonation in New Mexico’s Tularosa Basin in 1945, through decades of mutually assured destruction, to science-fiction-like visions of atomic energy powering advanced artificial intelligence platforms, to radioactive half-lives numbering tens of thousands of years, Time Zero additionally looks at the ways that the nuclear has reoriented humankind’s relationships to space and time.

https://www.nmhistorymuseum.org/event/details/6529/time-zero

4. Thursday, March 13^th at 5:30 pm at Los Alamos Nature Center, “Electrification Town Hall.” How will Los Alamos County handle growing electric demands?  What if everyone goes all in on electric?  What changes will be made to the grid?  More information at https://www.losalamosnm.us/Events-Directory/Town-hall-meeting-on-electrification

 CCNS questions: Will the Electrical Power Capacity Upgrade (EPCU) Project be needed with the import of 170 MW from the Foxtail Flats Solar + Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) facility in San Juan County?  How much electrical energy will be used to support the planned expanded plutonium pit production at LANL? 

5. Monday, March 24^th at 5:30 pm MDT virtual event – A New Generation of Nuclear Lies: Small Modular Reactors and Nuclear Plant Reopenings/Relicensing.  Speakers:  Paul Gunter, M.V. Ramana, and Linda Pentz Gunter.  Register now at https://masspeace.us/NuclearLies

Monday, March 3^rd begins the weeklong Third Meeting of States Parties (3MSP) to the United Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) at the United Nations in New York City. Government representatives, civil society organizations, non-governmental organizations, artists, health and justice workers and more from around the world will gather to take stock of the progress achieved by the States Parties since the last meeting in 2023.

They will continue their work to build on the treaty’s vision for the total elimination of nuclear weapons as the world marks the 80^th anniversary since the start of the nuclear threat, beginning with the aerosolized radioactive lanthanum experiments in Bayo Canyon in Los Alamos, the testing of the plutonium-packed Gadget bomb at the Trinity Site near Carrizozo, New Mexico, and the August 1945 U.S. bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan.

One of the principal meeting organizers is the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize winner, the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN).  It is a coalition of non-governmental organizations promoting adherence to and implementation of the United Nations nuclear weapon ban treaty.  ICAN is the international campaign to stigmatize, prohibit and eliminate nuclear weapons.  https://www.icanw.org/   CCNS is an ICAN Partner Organization.  https://www.icanw.org/united_states#countries-list

Over half the world’s state parties – now numbering 94 – have signed the Treaty and 73 have ratified it, each through its own unique treaty approval process.  https://www.icanw.org/signature_and_ratification_status  

His Excellency Ambassador Akan Rakhmetullin, of Kazakhstan, will serve as the meeting’s President.  https://press.un.org/en/2022/bio5477.doc.htm  The week-long diplomatic meeting will have four main sections of debate:  a high-level segment, a thematic debate on the risk to humanity of a nuclear conflict and its devastating humanitarian consequence, a general debate and review of the status and operation of the treaty.

You can also watch the proceedings on UN Web TV at https://webtv.un.org/en/schedule

In addition, ICAN is anticipating dozens of civil society representatives and governments will convene events on a variety of topics, from nuclear justice to art to youth engagement during the Nuclear Ban Week – New York.  Listings are available on the CCNS https://nuclearactive.org/ and ICAN websites.  https://www.icanw.org/

Side events at the UN:  https://meetings.unoda.org/-msp/treaty-on-the-prohibition-of-nuclear-weapons-third-meeting-of-states-parties-2025

Warheads to Windmills – for a fossil-free and nuclear-free future – two hybrid webinars:

1. March 5^th from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm MT “Promoting the TPNW in the US Congress” panel discussion where members of Congress will launch the 2025 Nuclear Weapons Abolition and Conversion Act. Register on website.
2. March 7^th from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm MT, “Building Support for a FOSSIL FUEL TREATY: Lessons from the TPNW Process.”  Register on website.
3. More events listed here: https://warheadstowindmills.org/3msp-events/

ICAN expects strong statements that the world is done with nuclear deterrence and that it seeks the cessation of preparations for nuclear war.  The meeting’s outcome should continue to layout a strong process, one in which concrete work towards nuclear cessation and nuclear justice is taking place.  At this key historic moment, with heightened nuclear risk, states are expected to push back against the threat that nuclear weapons pose and the urgency for nuclear disarmament.

1. Join us on Friday, February 28^th from noon to 1 pm at the intersection of East Alameda and Sandoval for the weekly one-hour peaceful protest for nuclear disarmament. 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 and join in the conversation for nuclear disarmament. 

2. Sunday, March 2^nd at 2 pm – A Gathering of Remembrance commemorating 25 years since Tony Price’s passing at Paradiso, 903 Early Street, Santa Fe. The event includes a special screening of the 1982 documentary Atomic Artist and informal conversations with producer/director Glenn Silber and special guests.  https://tonypriceatomicartist.com/ For more information:  tengam@tonypriceatomicartist.com

3. Wednesday, March 5^th from 2 to 4 pm MST- Hybrid Public Meeting about the EPA’s Individual Permit for Storm Water at LANL. In person:  Cities of Gold, Tribal Room, Pojoaque, NM.  Virtual and login information and agenda:  https://n3b-la.com/ip-mar-5-2025/

The Individual Storm Water Permit for LANL regulates the monitoring of storm water runoff from waste sites associated with legacy LANL operations.  N3B, the cleanup contractor, will provide a review of the 2024 storm water monitoring season, overview of advanced control structures and a look ahead at the 2025 monitoring season. 

4. If you need a break from the chaos – watch “Atomic Bamboozle: The False Promise of a Nuclear Renaissance” for FREE in February. Sponsored by the Oregon Conservancy Foundation about the people-powered shutdown of the Trojan nuclear power plant.  46-minute documentary.

 Click here to watch for free! (enter promo code ocf25)

Please watch and share with your friends. Now is a critical time to fight against false solutions to the climate crisis.

On Wednesday, the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) extended the public comment period by 30 days for the draft Site Wide Environmental Impact Statement (SWEIS) for Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). The comment period was extended from March 11^th to Thursday, April 10^th, 2025.

NNSA granted the extension at the request of stakeholders, including CCNS, who spoke at a series of recent draft LANL SWEIS public hearings or submitted written comments.  CCNS requested that the New Mexico congressional delegation sign a joint letter to NNSA asking for a 45-day extension.  It remains unclear whether a letter was submitted.

The draft SWEIS analyzes the potential environmental impacts from continuing LANL operations and foreseeable new and modified operations and facilities for approximately the next 15 years.  CCNS objects to the fact that this draft SWEIS projects that far because the most recent SWEISs were completed in 1999 and 2008, each projecting ten years of analyses.  This 2025 draft SWEIS is seven years later than expected.  Outstanding questions remain about whether the 2008 SWEIS actually covers the full 17 years.

There have been significant changes during this period, which is almost the timeframe for two SWEIS analyses.  For example, the budget request to Congress in Fiscal Year 2024 for LANL was $5.15 billion.  Compare that number to the budget request of $3.4 billion for 2018, the year the next SWEIS, following the ten-year pattern, should have been completed.  During this time, new construction and other long-awaited projects began and were completed.

All that aside, the huge increase in budget did not include provisions for NNSA to provide bound printed copies of this draft SWEIS for public review.  The 2020 U.S. Census shows that 30 percent of New Mexicans do not have access to the internet.  NNSA assumes everyone has computer access to read the 1,200 page SWEIS at their convenience.  But that is not the case.

CCNS requested that bound printed copies be distributed throughout the communities impacted by on-going LANL operations.

It was only this week that we learned that NNSA distributed one printed copy to each of the following four libraries:  the Zimmerman Library at The University of New Mexico; The New Mexico State Library in the Government Information Department in Santa Fe; the Española Library in Española; and the Thomas C. Donnelly Library at New Mexico Highlands University in Las Vegas.

Submit your comments to LANLSWEIS@nnsa.doe.gov or mail to LANL SWEIS, 3747 W. Jemez Road, Los Alamos, NM  87544.  For more information, https://www.energy.gov/nepa/articles/doeeis-0552-draft-environmental-impact-statement

1. Join us on Friday, February 21^st from noon to 1 pm

   at the intersection of East Alameda and Sandoval for the weekly one-hour peaceful protest for nuclear disarmament. 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 and join in the conversation for nuclear disarmament. 

2. Sunday, February 23^rd at 12:00 noon – Join Stop the War Machine to Demand Closure of All Military Bases Worldwide at Truman Street Gate (Gibson Blvd. and Truman St.), Kirtland Air Force Base, Albuquerque. Contact:  505 268-9557. https://worldbeyondwar.org/closebases/  See Top 5 Reasons Why We’re Calling for a Global Day of Action to #CloseBases

3. If you need a break from the chaos – watch “Atomic Bamboozle: The False Promise of a Nuclear Renaissance” for FREE in February. Sponsored by the Oregon Conservancy Foundation about the people-powered shutdown of the Trojan nuclear power plant.  46-minute documentary.

 Click here to watch for free! (type in promo code ocf25)

Please watch and share with your friends. Now is a critical time to fight against false solutions to the climate crisis.

On Thursday, February 20^th, Lindsay A. Lovejoy, Jr., the attorney for Honor Our Pueblo Existence and CCNS, will argue before the New Mexico Court of Appeals that the non-government organizations have standing to challenge the misregulation of the Radioactive Liquid Waste Treatment Facility, a key facility at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL).  The RLWTF treats liquid radioactive and hazardous waste generated at the Plutonium Facility from the fabrication of plutonium pits, or the cores, of nuclear weapons.  Those activities are ramping up under U.S. government plans to spend over $1 trillion dollars for new design weapons for use in a post-Cold War nuclear arms race.

Importantly, liquid radioactive and hazardous waste flows through underground pipes from the Plutonium Facility to the RLWTF for treatment.  After treatment, the liquids are discharged through an outlet called Outfall 051 into Effluent Canyon where it disappears into the ground and begins the journey through complex geology to the hexavalent chromium plume and on to the Rio Grande.

Regulatory oversight of the facility has come under scrutiny, highlighting the need for increased advocacy from the public, organizations, and Tribes to ensure appropriate regulation. In 2022, the New Mexico Environment Department, despite opposition from the two non-governmental organizations and others, issued a groundwater discharge permit, called DP-1132, to LANL allowing discharges through the outfall.

CCNS first raised concerns about the facility operations and the correct form of regulation in 1994 after which the New Mexico Environment Department and LANL began a 30-year convoluted groundwater-permitting scheme to permit the facility under the New Mexico Water Quality Act.

But the New Mexico Water Quality Act prohibits such permitting.  It states, “the [Water Quality Act] does not apply to any activity or condition subject to the authority of the Environmental Improvement Board pursuant to the Hazardous Waste Act.” Despite the prohibition, the Environment Department permitted the RLWTF under the Water Act.

LANL has acknowledged that the facility manages hazardous waste, which necessitates compliance with federal and New Mexico hazardous waste laws and regulations.  Nevertheless, LANL has done everything in its power to resist appropriate oversight in New Mexico.

Next week HOPE and CCNS will argue that they have standing to challenge the misregulation of the RLWTF.

The hearing will be held on Thursday, February 20^th at 10 am at the Albuquerque Court of Appeals Pamela B. Minzner Law Center, at 2211 Tucker North East, Albuquerque.  You are invited to attend.  https://coa.nmcourts.gov/

For more information, please see previous CCNS News Updates at:

https://nuclearactive.org/wqcc-denied-ccns-and-hope-standing-to-challenge-lanls-rlwtf-next-step-is-oral-argument-before-new-mexico-court-of-appeals/;

https://nuclearactive.org/wqcc-denies-ccns-and-hope-standing-to-challenge-dp-1132/;   https://nuclearactive.org/whats-at-stake-at-tuesdays-wqcc-hearing-on-hope-and-ccns-standing/;   and https://nuclearactive.org/whats-at-stake-at-tuesdays-wqcc-hearing-on-hope-and-ccns-standing/

1. Show Your Love! Join us on Friday, February 14^th from noon to 1 pm at the intersection of East Alameda and Sandoval for the weekly one-hour peaceful protest for nuclear disarmament.  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 and join in the conversation for nuclear disarmament. 

2. Thursday, February 13^th from 5 to 8 pm at Fuller Lodge, Pajarito Room, in Los Alamos. NEW INFORMATION:  This public hearing is in-person AND virtual. Please note:  The first 30 minutes of the in-person hearing will be an open-house poster session.

NNSA has added a virtual option to the Thursday, Feb. 13, public hearing.
The virtual meeting is 5:30-8:00 p.m. 
Online access is as follows:
Access by Internet: https://tinyurl.com/LANLSWEIS3 
Meeting ID: 288 629 140 033
Access by Telephone: 719-283-1404
Phone ID: 833 182 563#

For more information: https://www.energy.gov/nnsa/nnsa-nepa-reading-room

3. Monday, February 17^th at noon – National Day of Protest – At the White House and/or your State Capitol/City Hall/Town Hall – To Resist Fascism!

4. If you need a break from the chaos – watch “Atomic Bamboozle: The False Promise of a Nuclear Renaissance” for FREE in February. Sponsored by the Oregon Conservancy Foundation about the people-powered shutdown of the Trojan nuclear power plant.  46-minute documentary.

 Click here to watch for free! (enter promo code ocf25 )

Please watch and share with your friends. Now is a critical time to fight against false solutions to the climate crisis.

The Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), operated by the Department of Energy, plays a critical role in maintaining the safety and reliability of the nation’s nuclear stockpile. Central to this mission is the Radioactive Liquid Waste Treatment Facility (RLWTF), which was constructed in the early 1960s to treat, store, and dispose of radioactive and hazardous liquids.

For decades, the RLWTF has released “treated” water through an outlet called Outfall 051 into Effluent Canyon, which flows into Mortandad Canyon and toward the Río Grande.

The facility is currently misregulated under the New Mexico Water Quality Act. Instead, the RLWTF should be regulated under the New Mexico Hazardous Waste Act to ensure proper oversight, safety, and the health of the environment and waters.

Regulatory oversight of the facility has come under scrutiny, highlighting the need for increased advocacy from the public, organizations, and Tribes to ensure appropriate regulation. Since 1994, local community organizations such as Concerned Citizens for Nuclear Safety (CCNS) and Honor Our Pueblo Existence (HOPE) have raised concerns about its regulation, arguing that it should fall under the state’s Hazardous Waste Act rather than the WQA, which lacks sufficient public oversight and safety measures.  https://shuffle.do/projects/honor-our-pueblo-existance-h-o-p-e  

According to the New Mexico Water Quality Act (WQA), “the WQA does not apply to any activity or condition subject to the authority of the Environmental Improvement Board pursuant to the Hazardous Waste Act.” Despite the prohibition, the Environment Department has permitted the RLWTF under the WQA.

While LANL acknowledges that the facility manages hazardous waste, which necessitates compliance with federal hazardous waste regulations, LANL has done everything in its power to resist appropriate oversight in NM.

In 2022 and 2023, CCNS and HOPE challenged the misregulation before the New Mexico Water Quality Control Commission.  During the challenges, the community groups discovered the Commission’s chair had secretly and successfully applied for a position with LANL while she was leading the Commission. After a series of hearings, the Commission ignored the chair’s conflict of interest and stated that CCNS and HOPE did not have standing to challenge the discharge permit.  https://nuclearactive.org/wqcc-denies-ccns-and-hope-standing-to-challenge-dp-1132/; https://nuclearactive.org/whats-at-stake-at-tuesdays-wqcc-hearing-on-hope-and-ccns-standing/; and https://nuclearactive.org/whats-at-stake-at-tuesdays-wqcc-hearing-on-hope-and-ccns-standing/

Nearly two years later, CCNS and HOPE will have their day in the New Mexico Court of Appeal to argue that they have standing to challenge the RLWTF misregulation.  The hearing will be held on Thursday, February 20^th at 10 am at the Albuquerque Court of Appeals Pamela B. Minzner Law Center, at 2211 Tucker North East, Albuquerque.  You are invited to attend.  https://coa.nmcourts.gov/

1. Join us on Friday, February 7^th from noon to 1 pm at the intersection of East Alameda and Sandoval for the weekly one-hour peaceful protest for nuclear disarmament. 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 and join in the conversation for nuclear disarmament. 

2. Tuesday, February 11^th from 1 to 4 pm and 5 to 9 pm at the Santa Fe Community Convention Center, Sweeney Room – virtual and in person draft LANL SWEIS public hearing. Please note:  The first 30 minutes of the in-person hearing will be an open-house poster session.

Online Public Meeting: 1:30-4 p.m.; Access by Internet: https://tinyurl.com/LANLSWEIS1,  Meeting ID:  246 608 386 25
Access by Telephone: 719.283.1404, Phone ID:  409 573 1#

Online Public Meeting: 5:30-8 p.m.;  Access by Internet: https://tinyurl.com/LANLSWEIS2, Meeting ID: 285 648 444 285
Access by Telephone: 719.283.1404, Phone ID: 818 405 462#

For more information:  https://www.energy.gov/nepa/doeeis-0552-site-wide-environmental-impact-statement-continued-operation-los-alamos-national-0

3. Wednesday, February 12^th from 5 to 8 pm at Mision y Convento in Española. This public hearing is in person ONLY.  It remains unclear why this public hearing is not available virtually.  Please note:  The first 30 minutes of the in-person hearing will be an open-house poster session.

For more information:  https://www.energy.gov/nepa/doeeis-0552-site-wide-environmental-impact-statement-continued-operation-los-alamos-national-0

4. Thursday, February 13^th from 5 to 8 pm at Fuller Lodge, Pajarito Room, in Los Alamos. This public hearing is in-person ONLY.  It remains unclear why this public hearing is not available virtually.  Please note:  The first 30 minutes of the in-person hearing will be an open-house poster session.

For more information:  https://www.energy.gov/nepa/doeeis-0552-site-wide-environmental-impact-statement-continued-operation-los-alamos-national-0

5. If you need a break from the chaos – watch “Atomic Bamboozle: The False Promise of a Nuclear Renaissance” for FREE in February. Sponsored by the Oregon Conservancy Foundation about the people-powered shutdown of the Trojan nuclear power plant.  46-minute documentary.
   

Click here to watch for free! (enter promo code ocf25)

Please watch and share with your friends. Now is a critical time to fight against false solutions to the climate crisis.

You are invited to participate in a virtual Nuclear Watch New Mexico workshop about the draft Site-Wide Environmental Impact Statement (SWEIS) for the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) on Thursday, February 6^th from 5:30 pm to 7 pm Mountain Time.  Zoom in at:  https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87823838942

With LANL expanding its nuclear weapons programs—despite a long history of environmental contamination and nuclear safety issues—the draft SWEIS represents a vital opportunity for the public to demand transparency, accountability and environmental justice.

Public hearings will begin on Tuesday, February 11^th in Santa Fe, followed by a Wednesday, February 12^th hearing in Española, and a Thursday, February 13^th hearing in Los Alamos.  For more information, please visit:  https://nuclearactive.org/draft-lanl-site-wide-environmental-impact-statement-to-be-released-on-friday-january-10th/

The draft SWEIS is required by the National Environmental Policy Act, or NEPA.  It provides for public review and comment of the potential environmental impacts of continuing operations of LANL for the next 15 years.  Now is the time to get involved and have your voice heard!

During the workshop, Nuclear Watch will present about the following five key LANL issues:

• Expanded Plutonium “Pit” Bomb Core Production: LANL’s role in expanded nuclear weapons production conflicts with global disarmament efforts and pushes us deeper into the new, increasingly dangerous nuclear arms race.
• Proposed BioSafety Level-3 Facility:  LANL’s plans for a facility to handle dangerous pathogens, like anthrax, raise serious safety and transparency concerns.
• Proposed Tritium Releases:  LANL’s controversial proposal to release up to 100,000 curies of gaseous tritium, a radioactive isotope of hydrogen, poses significant environmental and public health risks.
• New Transmission Line Across Caja del Rio:  A proposed electrical transmission line for LANL’s growing Artificial Intelligence work would cross the environmentally and culturally sensitive Caja del Rio.
• Nuclear Waste Cleanup:  LANL plans to “cap and cover” and leave some 800,000 cubic yards of radioactive, hazardous and toxic wastes permanently buried in unlined pits and shafts is a long-term threat to the Española Sole Source Drinking Water Aquifer. The public must demand comprehensive cleanup.

This workshop will include opening remarks by Santa Fe Archbishop John Wester on the need for global nuclear disarmament. Dylan Spaulding, a Senior Scientist at the Union of Concerned Scientists, will follow the Archbishop.  Spaulding will address how expanded plutonium “pit” production is not to maintain the safety and reliability of the existing stockpile but is instead for new-design nuclear weapons.

The presentations on these issues and more will be followed by ample time for Q&A.

See the draft LANL SWEIS here:  https://www.energy.gov/nnsa/articles/nnsa-publishes-draft-site-wide-environmental-impact-statement-los-alamos-national or https://www.energy.gov/nepa/articles/doeeis-0552-draft-environmental-impact-statement

Comments on the draft LANL SWEIS may be submitted:

• by email to:  LANLSWEIS@nnsa.doe.gov.    ***Mark emails as:  SWEIS Comments***
• in writing to:

Mr. Stephen Hoffman, LANL SWEIS Document Manager

DOE/NNSA

3747 West Jemez Road

Los Alamos, NM 87544

***Mark envelopes as:  SWEIS Comments***

• verbally at one of the public hearings
• in written form at one of the public hearings

Comments must be received/postmarked by Tuesday, March 11, 2025.

It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of our dear friend and colleague Kenneth Mayers, Presenté. Ken co-founded the Santa Fe chapter of Veterans for Peace, a global organization that relies on the voices and experiences of military veterans to advocate for peaceful solutions to conflicts. He believed that working together we could build a world beyond war.  Ken Mayers said that apart from family, his social activism was the most inherently satisfying part of his life….”going to the streets to support causes I believe in is where it’s at.”  He could be seen on the corner of Cerrillos and St Francis, and Alameda and Sandoval, with CCNS and other peace activists waving banners calling for the end of war and nuclear weapons. There will always be a place for you there Ken, as well as in our hearts.

1. Join us on Friday, January 31^st from noon to 1 pm at the intersection of East Alameda and Sandoval for the weekly one-hour peaceful protest for nuclear disarmament and Kenneth Mayers, Presenté. 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 and join in the conversation for nuclear disarmament.

2. Tuesday, February 11^th from 1 to 4 pm and 5 to 9 pm at the Santa Fe Community Convention Center, Sweeney Room – virtual and in person draft LANL SWEIS public hearing.

 There will be a virtual option for these two meeting. Virtual hearing access instructions (e.g., website link or phone number) will be announced at least 15 days before the hearing and will be published in local newspapers, noticed to the GovDelivery mailing list, and available on the following websites: /nnsa/nnsa-nepa-reading-room and /nepa/public-comment-opportunities.

3. Wednesday, February 12^th from 5 to 8 pm at Mision y Convento in Española. This public hearing is in person ONLY.  It remains unclear why this public hearing is not available virtually.

4. Thursday, February 13^th from 5 to 8 pm at Fuller Lodge, Pajarito Room, in Los Alamos. This public hearing is in-person ONLY.  It remains unclear why this public hearing is not available virtually.