Los Alamos National Laboratory has released the Annual Site Environmental Report (ASER), a comprehensive document that provides an overview of the laboratory's environmental performance. The report includes data on soil, water, air, animals, and plants, in addition to covering compliance, radiation dose estimates, and waste management.
According to a press release by Los Alamos National Laboratory, stringent radiation protection measures are maintained at the lab. Extensive air quality monitoring is conducted with emissions consistently below 10% of regulatory limits. Public exposure to airborne radionuclides remains well within the 10-millirem limit set by the Clean Air Act. Furthermore, all projects ensure compliance with endangered species and cultural resource regulations.
Senior Director for the lab’s environment and waste programs, J’nette Hyatt stated: "Our environmental compliance programs help us adhere to regulations to ensure we are positively engaging with the natural world around us. Our monitoring programs collect crucial data that offer added certainty with regard to the Laboratory’s environmental impact." Hyatt further emphasized that these programs along with others related to environmental stewardship and waste management are instrumental in ensuring a sustainable future for the land, air and water managed by the laboratory.
In terms of environmental management, according to another press release by Los Alamos National Laboratory, rigorous stormwater runoff monitoring is conducted at the lab. It was found that 95% of inspected construction sites were compliant. Wildlife studies include a pilot study on pinyon jays and collaboration on wildfire mitigation's impact on mountain lion habitat. The Lab's Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) sampling program is among the most comprehensive in the Department of Energy (DOE) complex, contributing significantly to national efforts addressing PFAS contamination concerns.
Los Alamos National Laboratory was established in 1943 as part of the Manhattan Project. Located approximately 35 miles northwest of Santa Fe, it operates as a multi-program research center. The lab's focus includes nuclear weapons design and production, addressing nuclear threats, and conducting national security science, technology, and engineering, according to the About webpage provided by Los Alamos National Laboratory.