45th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2002

REQUESTING THE NEW MEXICO LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TO CREATE A JOINT LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE FOR LOS ALAMOS NATIONAL LABORATORY OVERSIGHT THAT CAN PARTICIPATE IN APPOINTING A CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND MEET WITH THE CALIFORNIA SENATE SELECT COMMITTEE FOR OVERSIGHT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY LABORATORIES OPERATED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA.

WHEREAS, Los Alamos national laboratory has been supervised by the University of California since 1943; and

WHEREAS, although Los Alamos is set apart from other communities in New Mexico by its location, Los Alamos national laboratory has an impact on the ground water and air quality, employment and economy of the communities surrounding it; and

WHEREAS, legislators and citizens of New Mexico and California have had concerns about the activities, operation and management of Los Alamos national laboratory; and

WHEREAS, for many years, the legislature of New Mexico was not involved in oversight of Los Alamos national laboratory, but for the last several years members of the legislature have been meeting with members of the California senate committee that provides Los Alamos national laboratory oversight; and

WHEREAS, a committee of the legislature should be appointed by the New Mexico legislative council to formalize the New Mexico legislature's commitment to communication with California regarding oversight of Los Alamos national laboratory; and

WHEREAS, the committee appointed by the New Mexico legislative council should be directed to appoint members to a citizens advisory committee, so that the citizens of New Mexico have a voice in recommending the course of action that New Mexico legislators should take in oversight and examination of the activities and consequences of the activities at Los Alamos national laboratory and in recommending areas for discussion with the California senate committee that provides oversight for Los Alamos national laboratory;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the New Mexico legislative council be requested to appoint a joint legislative committee for Los Alamos national laboratory oversight to meet regularly with the California senate select committee for oversight of the department of energy laboratories operated by the university of California; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the joint legislative committee for Los Alamos national laboratory oversight be charged with the duty of appointing a citizens advisory committee on legislative oversight of the Los Alamos national laboratory; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the joint legislative committee for Los Alamos national laboratory oversight be encouraged to meet regularly so that the citizens advisory committee can report its recommendations and identify, in consultation with the legislative committee members, issues that need to be more fully examined.