EM-LA News:
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Environmental Management Los Alamos Field Office (EM-LA) is issuing this notice of proposed floodplain action for the installation of storm water controls within the 100-year floodplains of Effluent, Mortandad, North Ancho, and Potrillo Canyons within Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL).
The proposed action would include the installation of rock check dams, rock plunge pools, coir logs, erosion control blankets, straw wattles, compost logs, and/or log check dams. The controls are designed to slow storm water runoff and capture sediment from areas previously identified to have contamination from LANL legacy operations. All controls would be installed in compliance with the LANL Storm Water Individual Permit National Pollution Discharge Elimination System Permit No. NM0030759. This project is part of the legacy cleanup under the 2016 Compliance Order on Consent as revised in 2024 (Consent Order) between the State of New Mexico Environment Department and DOE.
Pursuant to 10 Code of Federal Regulations Part 1022, the 15-day public comment period for this proposed floodplain action commences with publication of this notice and will conclude on March 27, 2026. Following the conclusion of the public comment period, EM-LA will reevaluate alternatives to the proposed floodplain action and the mitigating measures, taking into account all substantive comments received, and prepare a floodplain statement of findings.
Public Comment Period Closes March 27, 2026
The floodplain assessment may be viewed online here.
Submit written comments via
- Email: EMLA-NEPA@em.doe.gov with subject line “Installation of Storm Water Controls Comment”
- U.S. Mail:
EM-LA NEPA Document Manager,
U.S. DOE Environmental Management Los Alamos Field Office
1200 Trinity Drive, Suite 400
Los Alamos, NM 87544