SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 57

46th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2004

INTRODUCED BY

Richard C. Martinez

A JOINT MEMORIAL

URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY TO ABIDE BY THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO'S ORDER TO PROPERLY DISPOSE OF WASTE AT LOS ALAMOS NATIONAL LABORATORY AND TO RELEASE FEDERAL FUNDS FOR THAT EFFORT.

     WHEREAS, the United States department of energy and the New Mexico department of environment are engaged in a lengthy dispute over a cleanup order issued in November 2002 in which the state noted that waste at Los Alamos national laboratory posed an "imminent and substantial endangerment to human health and the environment"; and

     WHEREAS, the state's order provided a cleanup schedule and targeted hazardous and mixed wastes, including some radioactive material; and

     WHEREAS, more than forty million dollars ($40,000,000) in federal funds targeted for cleanup at Los Alamos national laboratory were withheld after negotiations concerning the cleanup order between the state and the department of energy broke down; and

     WHEREAS, the state of New Mexico is properly insisting that a legally enforceable cleanup plan be adopted for waste at Los Alamos national laboratory, and the department of energy is instead proposing that it abide only by its own cleanup plan; and

     WHEREAS, the state of New Mexico has been a good host to department of energy facilities for decades and hopes to continue in that capacity, but may find it difficult to do so if a cleanup plan for Los Alamos national laboratory that is satisfactory to the state is not implemented;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the department of energy be requested to abide by the state's cleanup order of November 2002 and that it release the more than forty million dollars ($40,000,000) it is holding for cleaning up waste at Los Alamos national laboratory; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the United States department of energy and the New Mexico congressional delegation.

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