A view at sunset of Los Alamos National Laboratory. Courtesy/LANL
LANL News:
Friday, April 4, 2025, the U.S. Department of Energy National Nuclear Security Administration’s (NNSA) Los Alamos Field Office, the U.S. Department of Energy Environmental Management Los Alamos Field Office and the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) submitted a request to New Mexico Environment Department to safely perform the controlled release of headspace gas from four flanged tritium waste containers (FTWCs) at Technical Area 54, Area G at LANL.
The relevant documents are posted in the LANL Electronic Public Reading Room: https://eprr.lanl.gov/
- Notification of Planned Start of a Temporary Authorization Request Waste Management Activity, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Hazardous Waste Facility Permit, EPA ID# NM0890010515
- Notification of Planned Start of a Radiological Air Emissions Point Source: Remediation of Flanged Tritium Waste Containers (FTWC) at TA-54
Upon receipt of the necessary approvals, NNSA and Triad National Security LLC, the management and operating contractor for LANL, will schedule the controlled release for a time when temperatures and conditions are appropriately suited for operations to proceed. At minimum, temperatures should be above 40 degrees to perform controlled release operations.
Following the operation, the containers can be safely transported to the Weapons Engineering Tritium Facility to be treated and packaged for permanent disposal at appropriate off-site facilities. This critical milestone furthers the cleanup of Area G.
This operation will be conducted with the utmost considerations for safety to LANL employees, the surrounding communities and the environment. LANL engineers have done careful analysis of the controlled release process and will monitor the real-time controlled release to ensure safety.
For more information about the process and to view the video walkthrough, please visit: Flanged Tritium Waste Containers | Los Alamos National Laboratory.