Santa Fe, New Mexico

August 25, 1999

Board Members Present:

Anthony Armijo
Fran Berting
George Chandler
Patrick Feehan
Augustin Garcia
Janet Gerwin
Tim Gallegos
Sara Galpin
Jim Johnston
Tammie Gomez
Domingo Martinez
Menice Manzanares
Connie Thomson-Ortega
Elmer Torres

Board Members Absent:

Royallynn Allen
Anthony Dorame
James Leach
Gilbert Tafoya
Gary Valdo

Ex-officio Members:

MJ Byrne, Deputy Designated Federal Official
Joe Vozella for David Gurulé, LAAO Area Manager
James Bearzi, NMED
Julie Canepa for Tom Baca. ER/LANL
Paul Schumann, ER/LANL

I. OPENING

A. Call to Order

MJ Byrne, Designated Deputy Federal Official, called the meeting to order at 6:05 p.m. Ms. Byrne turned the meeting over to the Chair, George Chandler.

B. The Board approved the meeting agenda as presented.

II. PUBLIC COMMENT - No public comment.

III. REPORTS

A. Chair Report - George Chandler

Mr. Chandler asked Ann DuBois to introduce the draft Workplan for FY 2000 as prepared by the Committees. The Committees will review this draft and present the final document at the September Board meeting.

Mr. Chandler introduced Dolores Garcia from Senator Bingaman’s Office.

B. Report on Background Radiation - Dr. Patrick Feehan

Dr. Feehan made a presentation on background radiation and compared the levels of radiation from various sources with background. The Chair requested copies of Dr. Feehan’s slides for the files.

C. WIPP - Ken Aragon of Westinghouse

Mr. Aragon presented a video of the packaging testing done by Sandia Laboratories on the TRU-PAC containers used for transporting waste to WIPP. The Chair requested copies of Mr. Aragon’s slides on CD Rom. for the files.

D. Update on Well Drilling Project - Charlie Nylander of LANL

Mr. Nylander presented an update report on the R-25 well. He said the well is being prepared for long-term monitoring.

New Mexico Environment Department - Jeanne Marie Crockett

Ms. Crockett invited Board members to participate in the NEWNET Station Managers’ training on Tuesday, September 7.

F. DOE Report by MJ Byrne, DDFO

Ms. Byrne announced that any Board member needing security badges for LAAO will be considered on a case by case basis. If any Board member needs special documents, please call MJ Byrne or Ann DuBois.

Ms. Byrne distributed the brochure for the Oak Ridge Conference on Long-term Stewardship. She asked if any Board members are interested in attending this conference.

Ms. Byrne discussed the SSAB Chairs Meeting at the Hanford Site. She announced that Assistant Secretary of EM will talk with the Chairs. George Chandler and Connie Thompson-Ortega will attend this meeting.

Ms. Byrne thanked the Committees for their work on the Annual Report and the FY2000 Work plan.

IV. COMMITTEE REPORTS

A. Bylaws Committee - Menice Manzanares moved, seconded by Bob Clark that since DOE has not yet appointed five new Board members, the proposed Board elections are held at the September 29 instead of the August 25 meeting. The motion passed 11-0.

B. Environmental Restoration Committee - Fran Berting distributed a written report. The Committee is reviewing a draft of a Citizens’ Tool Kit prepared by LANL. The Tool Kit is proposed to contain basic information on Environmental Restoration management at LANL.

C. Monitoring and Surveillance Committee - Anthony Armijo made an oral report. Mr. Armijo moved, seconded by Bob Clark that the Department of Energy:

1. Review the bid and selection process for the drilling contracts. Determine if the proposed contractors have considerable experience with the specifictechnology to be used. Award the contract on performance-based criteria (where applicable) rather than time and materials.

2. Specify in the negotiated contract if drilling techniques to be used are verified or exploratory techniques. Provide the goals and techniques to be used for each well. Provide in advance this information to the Northern New Mexico Citizens’ Advisory Board.

3. Identify in the contract the financial penalties to the contractor and subcontractors if a cost overrun occurs or if the well is damaged due to contractor negligence.

4. Identify in advance those areas that would potentially entail "plume-chasing" and/or corrective action; then forecast and allocate needed "plume-chasing" budget as separate and apart from current Environmental Restoration project budget.

5. Report at the next meeting of the Northern New Mexico Citizens' Advisory Board, if any additional contamination is found. Otherwise make quarterly reports at regular Board meetings which are "open" to the public and to which the press is invited. The reports should include:

The status of the Hydrogeologic Workplan schedule and goals.

Note any well completions.

b. The number, the status and the findings of the "plume-chasing" wells as they relate to the Hydrogeologic Workplan.

c. The current status of the water quality, and possible contamination of, the surface, alluvial, intermediate and regional aquifer including production wells.

d. The implications of the data presented to possible human and ecological health impacts.

Fran Berting and Sara Galpin suggested some wording changes that Mr. Armijo accepted. George Chandler asked Anthony Armijo about the genesis of the recommendation. Mr. Armijo described several meetings with LANL staff on the Hydrogeologic Workplan, his attendance at the June 8 public meeting in Los Alamos, meetings over several months with the Monitoring and Surveillance Committee meetings attended by Board members, members of the public and staff from the New Mexico Environment Department and drafting this recommendation in response to the issues and concerns that surfaced during these discussions.

Bob Clark asked about the budget process for this project. Joe Vozella said that the Hydrogeologic Work plan is an iterative process. When new wells are completed, more information is gathered and then a budget can be determined for the next phase. Mr. Armijo requested information on the actual costs as compared to the budget. John Alejandro said that if the contract uses performance-based criteria then you should know the cost in advance. Joe Vozella explained that the government process is to give an estimate of the cost going into the project. Bob Clark asked if a table of allocation costs and projected costs is available to the Board. Julie Canepa said that the costs are estimated at beginning of project. Joe Vozella said the original estimate is part of the process to get funds for these wells. Now that first well has been dug, it is possible to get better cost estimates for the use of Environmental Restoration and Defense Program funds.

Patrick Feehan asked if the well contractor went to the lowest bidder. Julie Canepa responded that LANL went for the best-value contractor not the lowest bidder. The R-25 well was planned to be one of the more scientific wells because it was the first time something like it was drilled at LANL. The overrun happened after the well was drilled due to an expanded scope and repair of the damage. The resolution of the liability for damage is now in contractual negotiation. Augustin Garcia asked about the number of personnel for the Environmental Restoration project. Julie Canepa responded that approximately 250 personnel work for her and the number varies due to contractors but that they are not working on R-25. The R-25 well is a smaller project and the biggest is the restoration of MDR P. Augustin Garcia asked about the ratio between administrative and cleanup workers. Joe Vozella replied that the Inspector General Reports on the ER Project are available and describe this information.

Robert Clark asked if one drilling well rig is sufficient for the scheduled projects. Joe Vozella said that one rig can do the job now that the R-15 and Mortandad Canyon wells are completed. The motion as amended passed 11 to 0.

Mr. Armijo invited the Board members to attend a Geology Workshop to be held at the end of September.

D. Waste Management Committee - Connie Thompson-Ortega made an oral report. She said that the FY2000 Workplan is a product of the meeting on August 24. Dr. Feehan added that the Committee was interested in reviewing the Performance Assessment for TA-50 and the rationale for expanding Area G.

E. Outreach Committee - Menice Manzanares made an oral report that the Committee worked on the Work plan and proposed budget. Ms. Manzanares moved, seconded by Fran Berting, that the DOE buy software for Tammie Gomez so she could produce the Board’s newsletter. The motion passed 11-0. Ms. Manzanares reported that the Committee is drafting a recommendation to expand the hours in the LANL Reading Rooms. She reported that announcements for this Board meeting included three radio shows with Domingo Martinez and Ray Armenta, letters written to the Congressional delegation, and local government officials, and newspaper advertisements. In addition, John Alejandro in working on the school logo project and Jim Johnston is managing the Board’s website.

She asked MJ Byrne about hiring an editor to produce the Annual Report. Ms. Byrne said that she was willing to explore that possibility.

F. Budget Committee - Connie Thompson-Ortega reported that the Retreat had a cost overrun that can be corrected by transferring funds from the Committee line items. When the Workplans are completed, a proposed budget will be sent to DOE.

V. BOARD COMMENTS

Janet Gerwin reported that she is drafting a letter to Representative Udall about the contamination on S Site and asked if ER had run out of money. Julie Canepa responded that S Site has been characterized and a concentrated area is being worked on now. The work at the TA-16 site on the 260 outfall work is being done over several years. The corrective measure at 260 outfall will be done next year. This plan was approved by NMED. The ER Project will finish MDA P sometime next year. The two largest and highest priority areas on this site will be finished next year.

Menice Manzanares requested a toll-free phone line for citizens to call in, and for teleconferencing capability to save on long distance travel. MJ Byrne responded that a proposal is being considered now for an 800 number.

VI. ADJOURNMENT

The meeting was adjourned 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 27, 1999.

Certified by:

 

____ ______ ________________

George Chandler, Chair Date