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Northern New Mexico Citizens' Advisory Board Meeting Minutes Los Alamos Inn Los Alamos, NM Board Meeting Minutes September 29, 1999 I.
OPENING A.
Call to Order MJ Byrne, Deputy Designated Federal Official called the meeting to order at 6:10 p.m. and turned over the meeting to the Chair George Chandler.
B. The Board approved the agenda as presented. The Board approved as amended the minutes for the July and August Board meetings. C.. Joe Vozella, Assistant Area Manager for the Los Alamos Area Office, presented a plaque to George Chandler in appreciation for his service as Board Chair. Leroy Apodoca, Director of the Community Relations II.
PUBLIC COMMENT Jeanne Marie Crockett, NMED, announced some training opportunities and several upcoming events. III.
REPORTS
Steve Reneau, LANL, reported on plutonium findings in Acid Canyon near the TA-45. This site is close to the first radioactive liquid waste treatment plant. The plant was torn down in 1966. Frequent investigations have been held throughout the years as cleanup standards improved. NMED took samples this fall. These samples are being evaluated now. If the sample is good, the average concentrations are below standards for land recreational use. LANL is recommending no remediation, fencing or posting. LANL acknowledges the need to further investigate this canyon. In January or February, LANL will have the results of more testing. The risk is from plutonium 239. However, the Rio Grande is hardly above background. Bob Clark asked what would be the remediation plans if they were necessary? Steve Reneau said that the site passes for recreational use and requires no further cleanup. If land use changes, then LANL will review the site. Janet Gerwin asked if berms or dikes were located at this location. Mr. Reneau responded that they are not needed to prevent erosion. Mr. Chandler asked if the risk model dealt with all pathways. Mr. Reneau said that the clay is very small size. The greatest risks are to breathe on the sand or soil or get it on your hands and ingest it. Patrick Feehan asked about what instruments are used to track the plutonium. Mr. Reneau said that they used an alpha counter. They look at the sediment contamination where there are storm events from the 1940's. Mr. Chandler asked why NMED released this information first. Chris Hanlon-Meyer said that NMED took samples to evaluate LANL’s NFA recommendations and used improved methodology. Joe Vozella said that DOE and NMED have established protocols for sharing information and Greg Lewis and John Parker of NMED and DOE are currently reviewing these protocols. John Parker, NMED, said that the protocol agreement calls for public release the data. Mr. Vozella said that he went to look at the site and assisted along with EPA in developing a sample plan. In January, NMED and DOE will review the new sample data and risk scenarios. James Bearzi, NMED, affirmed that the previous RCRA investigation was done before this new approach. This time, NMED found other constituents as well. NMED is concerned about how future development in the area may upset the sediment. He clarified that there is a problem but that it is less serious than other sites. Donivan Porter asked if NMED is checking the sample site to see if the finding is random. He suggested that NMED use the same sample to see what is present. The plutonium may not be evenly distributed. Bob Clark asked about how far below the surface are the samples taken. Mr. Reneau responded that they go down about 30" down to sample the soil. Janet Gerwin asked about the new apartments to be built soon in this area. A new risk scenario may be needed. Joe Vozella promised that DOE would review the risk scenario. Fran Berting asked about how loose sediments are rearranged during storm events. Mr. Reneau said that sediments are exposed if the event is large enough. Joe Vozella said that the stream is rocky. The highest concentration of plutonium was found in the stream sample. He added that during stormwater events, samples are taken automatically. Anthony Armijo asked about the distribution of wash downstream. Mr. Vozella responded that the area under investigation is a tributary to Acid Canyon and that most of the stuff is down below in the canyon. Mr. Chandler mentioned that a post-doc fellow at LANL did some similar sampling and wrote a book called Plutonium and the Rio Grande. He suggested that we buy the book for the NNMCAB library. Paul Schumann introduced Alan Chang from EPA. Last year Mr. Chang did some sampling and he will participate in next month’s sampling project in Acid Canyon, other locations off-site, and White Rock. Mr. Chandler requested a presentation to the Board in May. Mr. Chandler said that NNMCAB’s membership packet for five members was submitted to DOE. We are waiting for DOE approval on this package. Mr. Chandler reported his conversation with Leroy Apodoca regarding the Board’s recommendation on providing a briefing for local governmental officials. Mr. Chandler felt that LANL is close to implementing this recommendation. Mr. Chandler distributed an overview document that he prepared and an informative pamphlet on radiation. Mr. Chandler discussed the SSAB Chairs Meeting in Hanford on September 20-23. The Stewardship Conference in October was announced. Mr. Chandler felt that this is an important future issue for LANL. The Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement court settlement agreement required that DOE involve stakeholders in the study of Long-Term Stewardship. Connie Thompson-Ortega described the tour of the Hanford site, a videoconference with Secretary Richardson and a meeting with Under Secretary for Environmental Management, Dr. Hontoun. The draft SSAB Guidance was distributed for Board members’ comments. Board members are to give their suggestions to Ann DuBois by October 15. Anthony Armijo suggested that this issue be addressed in a Leadership meeting. Mr. Chandler announced that the Site Technology Coordinating Group from Albuquerque Operations looks at site problems then identifies technologies to match to these problems and encourages the use of new technology. He suggested that the Board might want to learn more about this process. Mr. Chandler said that DOE Environmental Management is reorganizing and MJ Byrne has the new organization chart if Board members are interested. Menice Manzanares suggested that Board members eligible for reappointment be contacted. MJ Byrne promised that we will have the NNMCAB membership package in DOE Headquarters by November 1st. Mr. Chandler announced that the Transportation Protocols have been drafted and the Center for Disease Control will hold a meeting on October 5 at Fuller Lodge in Los Alamos. MJ Byrne described the SSAB Chairs meeting at Hanford. Ms. Byrne asked the Board how they felt about the purchase of a software-publishing package so Tammie Gomez could produce a newsletter for the Board. Fran Berting distributed a written report on the Committee’s FY 99 accomplishments and plans for FY 2000. The Board is invited to tour TA-54 on Saturday, October 30. Anthony Armijo distributed the minutes of the September 16 meeting. The Committee is concerned about the monitoring of Los Alamos’ drinking water wells. He invited Board members to attend a Geology workshop on October 19 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The Committee suggested some possible Santa Fe locations for a NEWNET station. The Committee requested to purchase books and videotapes on soils and hydrogeology from the University of Northern Arizona. Connie Thompson-Ortega described the Committee’s plans for FY 2000. James Leach suggested that the Board consider creating a Transportation Committee. Menice Manzanares presented the Committee’s FY 2000 Workplan. She requested that Board members send Tammie Gomez their information for the newsletter. Ms. Gomez plans to distribute the next issue on November 1st. Ms. Manzanares asked about the proposed toll-free phone number. Ann DuBois responded that several carriers are being considered. A decision is expected soon. Ms. Manzanares requested that DOE seek a professional editor for the Board’s Annual Report. She suggested that LANL be contacted first and then look elsewhere. MJ Byrne promised to call Nancy Romero about the procurement process for an editor. Menice Manzanares moved, seconded by Fran Berting that staff proceed to have the annual report prepared and published professionally. The motion passed 11-0. The number of vote is less than the number attending due to the lack of DOE confirmation of some Board members. Ms. Manzanares announced that the Taos Feast Day and Tammie Gomez invited Board members to attend.
IV. BOARD COMMENT
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