Luján, Fleischmann Lead Nuclear Cleanup Caucus
From left, Co-Chairman Chuck Fleischmann, Acting Assistant Secretary for Environmental Management Mark Whitney and Co-Chairman Ben Ray Luján. Courtesy/BRLO
U.S. CONGRESSIONAL News:
Washington, D.C. – Fifty years of government nuclear weapons development stemming from the Manhattan Project during World War II has affected communities across the nation and resulted in the need for environmental cleanup at numerous sites.
In response, U.S. Representatives Ben Ray Luján, D-N.M., and Chuck Fleischmann, R-Tenn., will serve as co-chairs of the House Nuclear Cleanup Caucus, which met Read More
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich Gets Confirmation WIPP Recovery Efforts Are On Track
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. During a recent Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources hearing, U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., confirmed with U.S. Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz that the recovery effort at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) in Carlsbad is on track to return the facility to normal operation by the current target date of 2018.
WIPP is the only active facility in the United States that disposes defense-generated transuranic (TRU) waste. The facility halted operations in February 2014 following two separate accidents – a fire and a radiation release. Read More
Regional Coalition Of LANL Communities Meets Friday
Kurt Steinhaus
RCLC News:
The Regional Coalition of LANL Communities will hold a regular business meeting 9-11 a.m., Friday at the Los Alamos County Municipal Building, 1000 Central Ave., Suite 350.
Los Alamos National Laboratory’s Community Programs Office Director Kurt Steinhaus will make a presentation to the coalition.
Mayor Alice Lucero
Other agenda items include Espanola Mayor Alice Lucero reporting on the coalition’s recent trip to Washington, D.C. as well as recognizing Taos County Commissioner Tom Blankenhorn’s service to the coalition.
The Regional Coalition of LANL Read More
Heinrich On Ashton Carter’s Confirmation For Defense Secretary
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, questions Defense Secretary nominee Dr. Ashton Carter during his Tuesday confirmation hearing. ScreenShot/LADP
Scene from Tuesday’s confirmation hearing for Defense Secretary nominee Dr. Ashton Carter. ScreenShot/LADP
U.S. SENATE News:
- Watch video of Heinrich questioning Carter during his confirmation hearing.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich voted to confirm Dr. Ashton Carter to be the next Department of Defense Secretary. The senate confirmed Carter by a vote of 93 to five. Read More
WIPP: Initial Analysis Indicates No Additional Breached Containers Contributed To Radiological Release
Project Reach’s 90-foot boom is positioned over the top of waste containers in Panel 7, Room 7, as a remotely operated video camera collects photographic evidence. Courtesy/WIPP
WIPP News:
- AIB: No Additional Breached Containers Contributed to WIPP Radiological Release
- Watch a short video clip of Project Reach
Initial analysis of the photographic data obtained by Project Reach indicates that no additional breached waste containers contributed to the Feb. 14, 2014, radiological event at WIPP.
According to Ted Wyka, chairman of the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Accident Investigation
Congressional Delegation Visits Los Alamos 3 P.M. Today
Sen. Tom Udall
Members of the New Mexico Congressional Delegation including Sen. Tom Udall, Sen. Martin Heinrich and Rep. Ben Ray Luján are visiting Los Alamos at 3 p.m. today to celebrate passage of the Manhattan Project National Historical Park.
Sen. Martin Heinrich
The community is invited to attend this special event in the upstairs rotunda of Mesa Public Library.
Join the senators and representative at 3 p.m. for a reception and chance to thank them for all of the work they did to ensure passage of the Manhattan Project National Historical Park. At 3:30 p.m., the delegation will participate Read More
Luján Introduces RECA Legislation To Expand Compensation For Those Exposed To Radiation
U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján
U.S. CONGRESSIONAL News:
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico’s Third District introduced legislation in the House of Representatives today that expands compensation for those exposed to radiation while working in uranium mines or living downwind from atomic weapons tests.
Companion legislation has been introduced in the Senate by a bipartisan coalition of Senators, including New Mexico Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich.
Among the provisions in the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) Amendments of 2015 are much needed changes Read More
