PUBLIC NOTICE OF FILING OF APPLICATION BY LOS ALAMOS COUNTY, NEW MEXICO FOR A SOLID WASTE (MUNICIPAL WASTE) TRANSFER STATION PERMIT RENEWAL AND MODIFICATION AT THE LOS ALAMOS COUNTY TRANSFER STATION (LOS ALAMOS ECO STATION), LOS ALAMOS, NEW MEXICO
Pursuant to Section 22 of the New Mexico Solid Waste Act (Section 74-9-22 NMSA 1978) and 20.9.3.8.G and 20.9.3.25 NMAC (New Mexico Solid Waste Rules), notice is hereby given to the public and other affected individuals and entities that the County of Los Alamos has filed an application with the Resource Recovery Bureau (RRB) of the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) to renew and modify the solid waste facility permit (the Permit) for the Los Alamos County Solid Waste Transfer Station, also known as the Los Alamos Eco Station (Transfer Station). The application documentation will be available for review at the Applicant’s address as listed in Section 1 and at the New Mexico Environment Department’s address as listed in Section 5 of this Notice. Pertinent information required by the Act and the Rules is as follows:
1. Name, Address and Phone Number of Permittee and Contact Person:
The Permittee is the County of Los Alamos, 1000 Central Avenue, Los Alamos, NM 87544. The contact person for the Permittee is Mr. Armando Gabaldon, Environmental Services Manager, Los Alamos County. Telephone: 505-662-8163
2. Start-Up Date and Planned Hours of Operation:
The Transfer Station is an existing facility owned and operated by Los Alamos County that began operations in 2009 and is currently operating under the 20-year NMED Solid Waste Facility Permit No. SWM-021528 issued by the NMED effective July 14, 2006. The Transfer Station property is owned by the United States Department of Energy and maintains a 25-year renewable lease to Los Alamos County. Current and proposed operating hours for the Transfer Station are Monday- Friday, 8:00 A.M. – 4:15 P.M, and Saturday-Sunday, 9:00 AM – 4:15 P.M. The Transfer Station may operate outside scheduled operating hours to accommodate site preparation, inclement weather conditions, special projects, construction, internal operation/projects, maintenance, monitoring and other special circumstances.
3. Description of the Facility:
a. General Process: The Facility consists of a main process building (100’x100’) for handling municipal solid waste and several outside material unloading areas for mixed recyclables, scrap metal, white goods, green waste, tires, and e-waste. The Transfer Station currently processes municipal solid waste generated by residential and commercial entities, including construction and demolition debris. Solid waste received at the Transfer Station is transported to the Rio Rancho or Valencia Regional Landfills for disposal. All waste accepted at the Facility is removed from the tipping floor each day; any waste not transported from the Transfer Station by the end of the operating day will be stored on site within secured, tarped, and leak-proof transport trailers and removed early the following operating day. The Transfer Station will continue to operate under its existing permit until the NMED Secretary decides whether to issue, issue with conditions, or to deny the permit for renewal.
b. Location: The existing facility is located at 3701 E Jemez Road, Los Alamos, New Mexico within Section 16, Township 19 North, Range 6 East, New Mexico Prime Meridian.
c. Size: The facility is currently permitted for 7.1 acres.
d. Quantities and Rate of Solid Waste: The Transfer Station currently processes and transports approximately 75 tons of solid waste per day (annual average) but may receive more or less solid waste on a given day depending upon market conditions.
e. Types of Waste: Solid wastes accepted at the Transfer Station originates from municipal and commercial sources and includes municipal solid waste and construction and demolition debris. Clean fill, white goods, scrap metal, tires, glass, green waste, and mixed recyclables are also accepted for diversion to recycling and processing facilities. The average annual acceptance quantities for different wastes and materials are included below:
• Municipal Solid Waste and Construction/Demolition Debris: 15,740 tons/year
• Asphalt Concrete, or Clean Fill: 8,085 tons/year
• Green Waste: 2,262 tons/year
• Mixed Recycling: 1,694 tons/year
• Scrap Metal/White Goods: 398 tons/year
• Scrap Tires: 198 tons/year
• Glass: 90 tons/year
4. Description of the Modification:
Los Alamos County seeks approval to expand the permitted operating area of the existing Los Alamos Eco Station. The original permitted boundary encompassed an area of 7.1 acres, including the existing transfer station facility and all associated paved access roads, parking areas, and stormwater control infrastructure. The proposed modification will expand the operating area by 7.6 acres to a total area of 14.7 acres, involving a horizontal expansion approximately 45 feet to the east, 250 feet to the south, and 375 feet to the west of the original permitted boundary. The expansion proposes to include area for storing and processing asphalt, concrete, clean fill, green waste, and scrap metal.
5. Origin of Waste:
The majority of wastes received at the Transfer Station originate primarily from Los Alamos County.
6. Comments:
Questions or comments regarding the midterm permit review documentation should be directed to Mr. Armando Gabaldon at the address in Section 1, and to:
Ms. Daniele Berardelli
Permit Section Manager
New Mexico Environment Department, Resource Recovery Bureau
P.O. Box 5469
Santa Fe, New Mexico 87502
505-670-2018
Documentation submitted as part of the Permit Renewal and Modification Application may be reviewed at:
Los Alamos Eco Station, 3701 E Jemez Road, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87544
Business hours: 8 AM to 4:15 PM (Monday-Friday).
Contact: Mr. Armando Gabaldon, Environmental Services Division Manager. Telephone: 505-662-8163
NMED Resource Recovery Bureau, 1190 St. Francis Drive, Harold Runnels Building, Suite N2150, Santa Fe, NM. Business hours: 8 AM to 5 PM (Monday-Friday).
Contact: Daniele Berardelli. Contact phone number: (505) 670-2018
PUBLISHED IN THE LOS ALAMOS DAILY POST THURSDAY AUGUST 6, 2026