Northern New Mexico Citizens’ Advisory Board

MJ Byrne as the Deputy Designated Federal Official called the meeting to order at 6:05 p.m.

Agenda: Mat Johansen, DDFO, convened and delegated the meeting to George Chandler, Chair. The Board accepted the agenda as presented. The Board approved as amended the May 28 and June 25 meeting minutes. The Chair recognized David Gurule and MJ Byrne. He thanked Mat Johansen for his contributions to the Board.

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

Ms. Crockett announced a Community Radiation Monitoring Project tour of Los Alamos Area G sometime in September. She invited Board members and members of the public to contact her or Ann DuBois to arrange for the tour.

Mr. Daneman quoted the Federal Advisory Committee Act about public access to records and meetings. He expressed concern about how the Board responded to a member of the public at the last meeting. Mr. Daneman emphasized the importance of public involvement with the Board. He hoped that the new Board members would be more involved with Environmental Restoration. Mr. Daneman offered to prepare a written evaluation of the Board's activities since the beginning. This document would be his personal evaluation of the Board. He felt that the Board arbitrarily changed the bylaws, they have not followed the Work Plan assembled by former Committee Chairs and the budget was withdrawn. Mr. Daneman said that the Deputy Designated Federal Officer has the exclusive authority to decide about the budget. He encouraged all Board members to participate in at least one Board committee. Mr. Daneman, former Chair of the Environmental Restoration and Waste Management Committee, is prepared to transfer committee materials to the new Chair.

Mr. Trujillo suggested a change in the public input procedures to include dialogue between the Board and members of the public. People want to know the outcome of their suggestions and know how the Board what consideration the Board gave their ideas. Mr. Trujillo asked about what happened with the suggestions made by the Board. Mr. Chandler responded that Mr. Trujillo will hear from the committee reports how the Board is dealing with these issues.

Mr. Daneman responded to Mr. Trujillo about his Letter to the Editor. Mr. Daneman gave Ms. Byrne a copy of his response letter and asked her to distribute it. Ms. Byrne encouraged Mr. Trujillo and members of the public to participate in the Board's committees.

Chair report: Mr. Chandler asked the Vice Chair Elmer Torres to report. Mr. Torres observed that the Board has a protocol regarding Board members writing public letters about Board issues. This protocol states that Board members should contact Board Chair and Vice Chair if they want to make a public statement. All public comments should be clear that the opinions are only view of particular individuals and not represent themselves as speaking for the Board.

Mr. Torres asked that Board members treat with respect all members of the public and other Board members. He expressed concern about the
disruptions during other Board meetings. Mr. Torres asked that the Board discuss this matter and find a way to work together. Mr. Chandler said that the Board must balance freedom of speech and the need to have order. Everyone can have their say and we can keep order.

Mr. Tsosie said that the Board had been a learning experience and we are now living as community and we need to move forward and respect each other.

Action: The Board voted to hold a retreat on September 12 and 13 in a Northern New Mexico location. MJ Byrne may explore an exception for us to meet at the Santa Fe Hotel. Ghost Ranch, the Glorietta Conference Center, and Bishop's Lodge were suggested as possible conference site. The Board asked MJ Byrne to be the facilitator. The Retreat Planning Committee is: Carlotta McInteer, George Chandler, and Menice Manzanares.

Committee The Environmental Restoration Committee report was given by Catherine
Reports: Rivera-Lyons. The Committee met on July 16 and 21 and prepared a written report. The Committee drafted some comments concerning the Site-Wide Environmental Impact Statement that the Board could adopt as its own statement. The Board voted to adopt these recommendations and submit them to the DOE.

Board and members of the public are to contact Catherine Rivera-Lyons if they want a tour of the canyons on August 8. Elmer Torres, Carl Tsosie, Catherine Rivera-Lyons, George Chandler and MJ Byrne plan to attend.

` The Waste Management Committee report was made by Catherine Rivera-Lyons. A SSAB Low Level Waste Seminar will be held in Las Vegas, Nevada from August 16-19. The Committee is preparing a poster to describe LANL's experience with low level waste. Carlotta McInteer, Menice Manzanares, Connie Thompson-Ortega, Catherine Rivera-Lyons, Hank Daneman and MJ Byrne will attend the seminar.

The Bylaws Committee report was made by Menice Manzanares. The Committee met before last month's Board meeting. She asked the Board to make comments on the proposed bylaws. Ms. Manzanares reviewed the comments from Mat Johansen and George Chandler. The committee will meet again on August 5 in Española to finish the draft. They will circulate this draft to the Board before the August meeting and the Board should vote on the bylaws at the August meeting.

The Budget Committee report was made by Connie Thompson-Ortega. She distributed the budget to Board. Ms. Thompson-Ortega described the possible shortfall before the end of the fiscal year. She described the anticipated expenses including the retreat and possibly advisors for the committees. September 30 is the end of the fiscal year. MJ Byrne asked that the Board prepare Work Plans by September. DOE needs these operational plans before the fiscal year begins. George Chandler proposed that Elmer Torres and he meet with the Chairs to develop these work plans. The Board Committee Chairs will hold a meeting on August 5 at the City Hall in Española to finish the bylaws and prepare the work plans.

The Community Outreach Committee report was made by Carl Tsosie. He asked for more funds for public notices and to encourage public participation. Mr. Tsosie will bring a proposal to the work plan meeting.

Reports: Elmer Torres reported on the Environmental Intersite Conference in San Diego from June 21-23. Elmer Torres and Carlotta McInteer attended this DOE conference held in cooperation with the League of Women Voters. Other Board sites looking at same issues as this Board: store or transport hazardous materials to WIPP. Other Boards are making recommendations on these issues regarding low-level waste. Mr. Torres felt that more DOE decision-makers needed to be present for these discussions. Under Secretary Owendorff was present on the last day. Carlotta McInteer described the workshop process and the need for respect for public input.
Mat Johansen described the map of various DOE sites with different kinds of materials. The conference participants learned about the up and down sides of every decision. The participants found the map very enlightening and gained a greater appreciation for the complexity of the issues.

Elmer Torres described the special meeting held on July 9 to discuss the Site-wide Environmental Impact Statement. Michael Smith, Carlotta McInteer and Elmer Torres attended this meeting. These Board members contributed their ideas to the Environmental Restoration Committee that drafted the comments on this document.

Board Mat Johansen thanked the Board members for their service. Elmer Torres
Comments: thanked Mat for his guidance during the difficulties that the Board has experienced. He felt that Mat's guidance and recommendations were supportive to the Board.

Agenda: The next Board meeting will be August 26 and a place will be identified. The meeting adjourned at 8:15 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 in Española on July 28, 1998.

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Northern New Mexico Citizens Advisory Board
1660 Old Pecos Trail, Ste B
Santa Fe, New Mexico 87505
(800) 218-5942
(505) 989-1662 FAX (505) 989-1752
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Los Alamos Citizens Advisory Board
P.O. Box 1665
Los Alamos, New Mexico 87544
(505) 662-1234 FAX (505) 662-4321
staff@lacab.org