Northern New Mexico Citizens' Advisory Board Meeting Minutes

Plaza Hotel

Las Vegas, NM

Board Meeting Minutes

August 26, 1998

Public Comment

Jeanne-Marie Crockett, New Mexico Environmental Department, 2044A Galisteo Street, Santa Fe, NM 87502 505-827-1536

Ms. Crockett reported that the New Mexico Environment Department 1997 annual report is now available at the Internet NMED website.

End of Public Comment

Chair's Report: George Chandler announced that DOE will hold the national SSAB Chairs' meeting on September 15-17 in Boulder, Colorado. George Chandler, Carl Tsosie, MJ Byrne and Ann DuBois will attend the meeting.

George Chandler presented a suggested agenda for the September 11-13 Board Retreat. The Board made several changes in the agenda. The Board invited ex-officio Board members to the Retreat.

DOE Report: MJ Byrne described Ray Armenta's role as a consultant to the Department to support the Board and provide community outreach. Mr. Armenta distributed a written report to the Board. The Board requested that Ray Armenta make monthly reports about his activities and plans for the coming month. Catherine Rivera-Lyons asked Ray to make his presentation on environmental management to the Waste Management Committee. Bob Prommel offered to the Board the Community Involvement Office's community contacts.

Ann DuBois described her role of offering administrative support to the Board. She suggested a further discussion concerning roles at the Board Retreat.

MJ Byrne described her administrative style as pro-active and asked
Board for feedback so she can be the most supportive of the Board. Michael Smith asked MJ Byrne if more office space for Board records and library was available. MJ Byrne said she would have an answer by September 11. The Board requested an updated mailing list and a committee members list.

Committee reports: Michael Smith submitted a written report from the Environmental Restoration Committee. The members of this committee are Catherine Rivera-Lyons, Elmer Torres, Jim Waber, Michael Smith and Hank Daneman.

Motion: Michael Smith moved that: "The Northern New Mexico Citizens'
Advisory Board makes the following requests to the Department of Energy:
1. Get a map of the approximate 26 Material Disposal Area Sites (MDAs).
2. Request the Pueblo Canyon Groundwater Report. This is due to

DOE in mid-September. The DOE will have a 10 day comment period, after which it will be available to the public (approx. mid-October).
3. Request information from Pat Valerio (ESH-20) about LANL's fire managment plan.
4. Request information from DOE/LANL on canyon sediment remediation techniques.
5. Request information from ESH-20 on contaminated sediment risks to wildlife and vegetation.
6. The Board made a formal request for two copies of the Groundwater Report.

The motion was seconded by Carl Tsosie. There was not discussion. The motion passed 9 to 0.

Motion: Michael Smith moved that the Board tour Pueblo Canyon sometime in October. The motion was seconded by Bill Wyatt. There was no discussion. The motion passed 9 to 0.

Motion: Michael Smith moved that: "The Northern New Mexico Citizens'
Advisory Board requests that the Department of Energy provide answers to the following questions on the DOE's Inspector General's Report on Environmental Restoration:
(1) request information on the nine questions posed by the committee and (2) ask DOE how long will it take to respond to these questions."

Motion: He further moved that "the Department of Energy be requested to provide
an estimate immediately of the length of time it will take to provide answers." The motion was seconded by Carl Tsosie.

Motion: After discussion, Michael Smith moved to table the motion pending consultation with Ted Taylor. Carl Tsosie seconded, and the motion to table carried 9 - 0.

Michael Smith moved to table this motion pending more consultantion with Ted Taylor. Carl Tsosie seconded this motion. The motion to table this recommendation passed 9 to 0.

The Board requested that MJ Byrne explore whether DOE could give some LANL's excess computers to Connie Thompson-Ortega, Menice Manzanares, and Orlando Arellano. The purpose is to facilitate Board communication via E-mail.

Catherine Rivera-Lyons made a report for the Waste Management Report. The Committee members are Catherine Rivera-Lyons, Connie Thompson-Ortega, and Menice Manzanares. Catherine described the Low Level Waste seminar held August 16-19. The Committee members and Carlotta McInteer went to Las Vegas, Nevada. Each site made a presentation on their waste management issues. The expected seminar outcome is to make recommendations to DOE. The Committee will bring the proposed recommendations to the Board to check consensus and then the consensus of all the Boards will be sent to DOE as a recommendation

At the next Board meeting, Catherine will make the presentation she made at the Nevada Test Site Low Level Waste Seminar and bring the poster. Catherine announced LANL's Green day on September 1 and invited
Board members to attend. Catherine distributed the
invitation and agenda to the Board.

Menice Manzanares made the report of the Bylaws Committee. Michael Smith asked about public announcements for committee meetings. On page 8 of the Bylaws under the heading Structure of the Committees #4, public notice of committee meetings and public locations of meetings are requested. Menice Manzanares suggested that the Board adopt the bylaws at the next meeting and hold elections of new officers.

Connie Thompson-Ortega presented the Work Plan and Budget. Bill Wyatt made a motion that Menice Manzanares seconded that the proposed budget for FY99 be adopted. Bill Wyatt moved to amend the budget which was seconded by Menice Manzanares to amend the budget to add $1000 to the staff travel line item. The motion to amend passed 8 to 0. (Gary Valdo had left the meeting.) The main motion then passed 8 to 0.

MJ Byrne announced that she had received approval from Martha Crosland and Fred Butterfield, DOE EM Headquarters, for an additional $27,700 to support Board activities.

George Chandler presented Community Outreach report from the August 5 planning meeting. He requested that the Board do more planning for community outreach at the Retreat. Mr. Chandler asked Board for permission to write and distribute press releases describing the Board's progress. The Board did not object.

The location of the next meeting will be Los Alamos and the date is September 30. The agenda includes: presentation by Catherine Rivera- Lyons on low level waste issues, Committee reports, election of officers, and a vote on the Bylaws. Board members who want to go on the WIPP trip should contact Ray Armenta about their travel plans.

George Chandler adjourned the meeting at 9:00 P.M.

The minutes are an accurate and complete summary of the matters discussed and conclusions reached at the Northern New Mexico Citizens' Advisory Board meeting held on August 26, 1998 in Alcalde, New Mexico.

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