Los Alamos Toxic Plume: 'Runaway Train' Threatens Pueblo Land

• A hexavalent chromium plume from Los Alamos National Laboratory is spreading under Pueblo de San Ildefonso land, prompting legislative concern.
• The plume originated from contaminated water discharged into Sandia Canyon from a non-nuclear power plant between 1956 and 1972.
• Los Alamos National Laboratory and the New Mexico Environmental Department executed a cleanup settlement agreement on August 30, 2024.
• Prolonged exposure to hexavalent chromium can cause serious health issues, including damage to skin, eyes, respiratory tract, and cancer.
• New Mexico lawmakers also raised alarms over 20 proposed uranium mines, including three on Mount Taylor, a sacred site for the Navajo Nation.

The ongoing spread of hexavalent chromium from the Los Alamos National Laboratory beneath Pueblo de San Ildefonso lands has been characterized as a "runaway train" by a key legislative figure.

A significant environmental concern has emerged regarding a toxic chromium plume originating from the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), which is currently migrating beneath the lands of Pueblo de San Ildefonso. This issue was brought to the forefront during a recent update to the New Mexico Radioactive and Hazardous Materials Committee, where Senator Jeff Steinborn, a Democrat and chairman of the committee, characterized the situation as a "runaway train." While LANL representatives highlighted their success in shipping over 90% of above-ground waste with a strong safety record, Senator Steinborn redirected focus to the persistent underground contamination.

The plume consists of hexavalent chromium, a chemical that has infiltrated aquifers beneath the Pueblo's land. Its origins trace back to a non-nuclear power plant at the laboratory, where contaminated water was discharged into Sandia Canyon between 1956 and 1972. Although Stanley Pyram, the acting manager of the Environmental Management Los Alamos Field Office, stated that the plume does not currently pose an immediate threat to public or drinking water wells, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) warns that prolonged exposure to hexavalent chromium can cause damage to skin, eyes, and the respiratory tract, and is linked to cancer. LANL is attempting to reactivate an interim measure designed to extract, treat, and reinject clean water along the plume's edges, but Senator Steinborn expressed skepticism, noting, "It clearly doesn’t feel like it’s been characterized, let alone that we’re effectively remediating or arresting it."

The remediation efforts for the Los Alamos toxic plume Pueblo land are complicated by an ongoing lack of a finalized cleanup agreement. LANL representatives met with the New Mexico Environmental Department in August to negotiate a waste cleanup settlement. A settlement agreement was executed on August 30, 2024, between the New Mexico Environment Department and the U.S. Department of Energy to clean up legacy radioactive wastes at Los Alamos National Laboratory, superseding a previous 2016 agreement. Pyram had indicated that progress was being made, stating that being "ahead" was achieved by the time a settlement is signed. However, Senator Steinborn had countered this perspective, emphasizing that without a signed agreement, there would be no binding commitment from the laboratory to address the contamination.

During the committee meeting, Senator Steinborn directly questioned whether LANL accepted responsibility for clearing the hexavalent chromium plume. Pyram affirmed the laboratory's role, explaining that "enough data shows part of the contamination came from the power plant," which is why they are engaged in the cleanup process. Despite these acknowledgments and the implementation of multiple recommendations from its technical advisory committee, the prior absence of a formal, signed settlement had left the long-term commitment to remediation in question, a point of significant concern for the Pueblo de San Ildefonso, as noted by Senator Steinborn.

Beyond the Los Alamos National Laboratory cleanup, the legislative committee also addressed broader concerns regarding new resource extraction projects in New Mexico, specifically focusing on proposed uranium mines. Twenty new uranium mines are under consideration across the state, drawing significant opposition from local residents and tribal communities. Leona Morgan, a New Mexico resident, highlighted that three of these proposed mines are slated for Mount Taylor, a site considered sacred by the Navajo Nation.

One such proposal involves Energy Fuels, a Colorado-based company, seeking to establish a uranium mine near Mount Taylor within the Cibola National Forest and National Grasslands. This mine is projected to operate for 21 years, with 11 years dedicated to production and a subsequent 10 years for reclamation and monitoring. Morgan underscored that the Navajo Nation maintains a moratorium and a law prohibiting uranium mining on its lands and Mount Taylor, despite the reservation lacking direct jurisdiction to halt mining activities in the proposed area. Ava Curtis, an environmental justice coordinator for the Multicultural Alliance for a Safe Environment and a member of Communities for Uranium Accountability, echoed these concerns, referencing the health impacts from New Mexico's 261 abandoned mines and advocating for a pause on new permits until robust regulatory infrastructure is in place to manage modern mining technologies and the current surge in uranium mining.

Environmental lawyers and compliance officers should closely monitor the ongoing negotiations for the Los Alamos National Laboratory cleanup agreement, as its resolution will set precedents for liability and remediation of historical contamination impacting tribal lands. This case highlights the increasing scrutiny on legacy environmental issues and new resource extraction projects, particularly those affecting Native American territories, necessitating careful review of environmental compliance, tribal consultation, and potential litigation risks for clients operating in similar contexts.

Source: Original reporting via CN