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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T

SPONSOR	Martinez		DATE TYPED	2/4/04		HB
SHORT TITLE		Los Alamos National Lab Waste Disposal				SJM	57
					ANALYST		Koplik

REVENUE

Estimated Revenue		Subsequent Years Impact	Recurring or Non-Rec	Fund Affected
FY04	FY05
		See Narrative

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Revenue Decreases)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

Senate Joint Memorial 57 urges the federal Department of Energy to properly dispose of hazardous waste at Los Alamos National Laboratory and release $40 million in federal funds for this effort.

Significant Issues

The federal Department of Energy (DOE) and New Mexico’s Environment Department are currently engaged in a dispute over a clean up order for Los Alamos National Laboratory. In November 2002, the state noted that this waste posed an “imminent and substantial endangerment to human health and the environment.” A clean up schedule targeting hazardous and mixed wastes, including some radioactive materials was presented to the DOE. More than $40 million in federal funds have been withheld because negotiations over the clean up order stalled.

This dispute arose because the Environment Department insists upon a legally enforceable plan, while the DOE proposes following its own clean up schedule. While the state of New Mexico has been a good host to DOE facilities for decades, it may be difficult to continue in this role if a satisfactory clean up plan is not implemented.

This memorial urges the federal Department of Energy to abide by New Mexico’s clean up order for Los Alamos National Laboratory, and release more than $40 million for these efforts.

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