Public Comment Period for draft LANL SWEIS Extended to April 10th

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.

Tags: Department of Energy, DOE, draft Site-Wide Environmental Impact Statement for Continued Operation of the Los Alamos National Laboratory, Española Library, LANL, Los Alamos National Laboratory, National Nuclear Security Administration, new mexico, New Mexico State Library, NNSA, Thomas C. Donnelly Library, U.S. Census, Zimmerman Library