July 28, 1999

I. OPENING

A. Call to Order

DDFO MJ Byrne called the meeting to order and turned the meeting over to the Chair George Chandler at 6:05 p.m.

Erlinda S. Gonzales, a member of the Taos City Council greeted the Board and thanked them for meeting in Taos.

The following Board members were present:

Board Members Present:

John Alejandro
Fran Berting
George Chandler
Robert Clark
Patrick Feehan
Tim Gallegos
Sara Galpin
Augustin Garcia
Janet Gerwin
Jim Johnston
Menice Manzanares
Connie Thompson-Ortega

Members Absent:

Anthony Armijo
Royallynn Allen
Anthony Dorame
Tammie Gomez
James Leach
Domingo Martinez
Gilbert Tafoya
Gary Valdo

DOE:

MJ Byrne, DDFO
Joe Vozella for David Gurulé

LANL:

Julie Canepa for Tom Baca
Torie George

The Board approved the agenda as submitted.

C. The Board approved the minutes of the June 30 as amended.

II. Reports

A. Gil Suazo, LANL Executive Staff Advisor for Pueblo Relations

Mr. Suazo distributed a written report on the Government to Government

Relations between the Pueblos and the Department of Energy and LANL. He gave an overview of LANL and the historical relationships with the Pueblos. In the immediate surrounding area, 140,000 Native Americans from 15 tribes speaking eight languages are within a 60-mile radius of Los Alamos. Native Americans have a spiritual relationship with the physical world and the environment and continue to practice their cultures. Access to LANL is through tribal land.

LANL’s outreach efforts to Taos Pueblo began in 1985. In 1991, the Pueblo was concerned about any vibrations coming from LANL that might damage Pueblo structures and about water and air quality issues. LANL established an air quality station at the Taos Pueblo. LANL taught Pueblo members how to test for water quality and lent the equipment to test the samples. Soil samples were taken from 1993 until 1997. The test results for four years showed that the Pueblo was not affected by anything coming from LANL. LANL provided different equipment to detect local dust pollution.

B. Jean Dewart, LANL Air Quality

Ms. Dewart reported on the air quality program monitoring effects on and off site LANL. She distributed a written report.

III. PUBLIC COMMENT

No one signed up for Public Comment

IV. BOARD BUSINESS

A. Chair’s Report

Mr. Chandler prepared an analysis of PRSs and a tutorial summary report. DOE and LANL are commenting on the report. The final product will be distributed to the Board. A Leadership Committee meeting was held on July 22. The Leadership Committee nominates for FY2000 Connie Thompson-Ortega as Chair and Bob Clark as Vice Chair. Elections are proposed for August 25 and the new officers take office on October 1. The reason for moving the usual date is so that the new Chair and Vice Chair can attend the SSAB Chairs meeting in September at Hanford. Mr. Chandler asked if the Board wished to make nominations from the floor. Jim Johnston moved, seconded by Fran Berting that the Board elections be held in August. The motion passed 12-0. Mr. Chandler affirmed that tonight there were no nominations from the floor but the Board can nominate from the floor in August.

Mr. Chandler said that the Annual report to DOE on the Board’s workplan for FY99, and the budget for next year were due before September 30. He asked each committee to prepare this month a one or two page report on last year’s accomplishments and a proposed workplan and budget for next year. MJ Byrne said the report on the Retreat had information useful for the preparation of these annual reports. The Retreat report will be distributed to the Board committees.

B. DOE’s Report

MJ Byrne reported that the proposed DOE budget cuts might impact land transfer cleanup. She inquired whether the cuts might affect the SSABs budgets. No information from Headquarters is yet available as the negotiations are continuing.

Ms. Byrne reported that in her conversations at the Philadelphia Transportation Conference, DOE Headquarters staff expressed their pleasure with the NNMCAB.

Ms. Byrne reported that DOE is now using a new computer program to track the Board’s travel payments. The computer problems delayed travel reimbursements to Board members. Ann DuBois designed a streamlined process that will be implemented soon.

Ms. Byrne announced that the badges giving access to the Los Alamos Area Office did not make sense now that the Board’s office is in Santa Fe. Review of this decision will be made on an individual basis for those Board members wanting access to the Area Office.

Ms. Byrne reported that the Santa Fe Office is now open. Board members can call the staff at 505-989-1662 or visit them at 1640 Old Pecos Trail, Suite H.

Ms. Byrne thought the WIPP Chronology information would be useful for the Board and included the list Pueblo Feast Days to encourage Board to attend these events.

Ms. Byrne thanked James Bearzi of the NMED for the staff coming to committee meetings.

C. Committee Reports

1. Environmental Restoration - Fran Berting, Chair, distributed a written report. At the July 19 meeting, the Committee heard an update on the ER cleanup of the proposed land transfer sites. George Chandler shared his report on the PRSs. On July 23, five Board members, 2 summer students, MJ Byrne and Carmen Rodriguez toured the Liquid Waste Treatment Plant and Mortandad Canyon.

2. Monitoring and Surveillance - Ann DuBois delivered the report in the absence of the Chair Anthony Armijo who is preparing for the Jemez

Feast Day on August 2. Mr. Armijo invited the Board to attend the Feast Day. The Committee is drafting a recommendation on the Hydrological Workplan.

3. Waste Management - Connie Thompson-Ortega, Chair, asked Jim Johnston to report his experience with the July Transportation Conference. Jim Johnston distributed a written report on the Philadelphia meeting. Ms. Byrne also attended the meeting. She asked Mr. Chandler when the Board would like to comment on the proposed Transportation Working Group.

Mr. Chandler asked that the recommendation about whether the Board should participate come through Waste Management Committee and be presented at the next Board meeting.

4. Budget Committee - Connie Thompson-Ortega, Chair, requested that each Committee propose a budget for next year.

5. Community Outreach - Menice Manzanares, Chair, reported on the

July 16 and 23 meetings. The Committee worked on the publicity for this meeting including an article in the Taos News, Public Service Announcements, flyers for Taos, and advertisements in the Taos News, the New Mexican, and the Journal North. The fact that so few members of the public attended this meeting may attest to LANL’s reaching the residents in other ways. The Committee did some networking at the Taos Pueblo and invited the Governors and Lt. Governors from the Taos and Picuris Pueblos. The Committee will meet with the Congressional delegation and invite them to attend the August Board meeting and to become regular participants at our meetings. Ms. Manzanares met with Ms. Byrne about inviting Secretary Richardson to attend a joint meeting with the Sandia Board. Tammie Gomez and the Committee are working on a new format for the newsletter and updating the mailing list of 1600 addresses. Jim Johnston reported on the updated website.

Mr. Chandler requested that the Committee propose a recommendation on extending the hours of LANL’s Reading Rooms so public documents can be more available.

Mr. Chandler held a television interview with Monica Armenta and a radio interview with Jerry Apodoca. The Chair is regularly scheduled for a radio interview on KRSN every month the Thursday after the Board meeting. The tapes of these programs are in the CAB library. Bob Clark reported that the PAC-8 tape of the May Board meeting has been broadcast several times.

V. BOARD COMMENTS

A. Ms. Byrne commented on the possible impacts of DOE cuts and reorganization on the EM budget. She said that probably these changes will have no effect but the legislation is currently being drafted in Congress. John Arthur told her that these changes are not likely to effect current operations.

B. Mr. Chandler welcomed Sara Galpin and Janet Gerwin as new Board members.

Menice Manzanares asked if Mr. Chandler and Ms. Byrne are still interviewing prospective members. Ms. Byrne responded that Elmer Torres is interested in returning to the Board and has been active on the Outreach Committee.

C. Jim Johnston said that he had more reports on the Philadelphia Transportation Conference available for Board members.

D. Bob Clark mentioned that he is in contact with the Congressional Delegation if the Community Outreach Committee wanted him to invite them to the August meeting. The Community Outreach Committee will meet with the Delegation and Bob will coordinate his contacts to support this effort.

E. Dr. Berting expressed appreciation to Julie Canepa for the packet of maps to support the Committee’s work.

VI. CLOSING

Mr. Chandler adjourned the meeting at 8:35 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 July 28, 1999.

Certified by:

____________________ _____________________

George Chandler, Chair Date