COUNTY News:

The public is encouraged to hear a presentation from the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) regarding the hexavalent chromium plume at the Board of Public Utilities meeting at 5:30 p.m., June 3, 2026.

Hexavalent chromium was used by the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) from the 1950s–1970s. Contaminated water was periodically released into Sandia Canyon and Mortandad Canyon during this time frame. LANL contracts N3B to remediate contaminated groundwater, and N3B must work with NMED’s regulations for contamination levels.

The Department of Public Utilities does have a drinking water well located outside of the current known extent of the plume. However, this well has not been in operation for four years out of an abundance of caution to protect the drinking water supply.

The DOE Environmental Management Los Alamos Field Office (EM-LA) and N3B provided a status on the remediation efforts at the May 20, 2026 BPU meeting. To view that presentation, please visit ladpu.com/BPULiveProceedings.

The presentation can be viewed in person in the Council Chambers at the Municipal Building or via Zoom at this link https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87563449773.