Northern New Mexico Citizens' Advisory Board Meeting Minutes

San Ildefonso Pueblo

Board Meeting Minutes

November 15, 2000

MJ Byrne, Deputy Designated Federal Official, called the meeting to order at 6:15 p.m.

Governor Perry Martinez of the San Ildefonso Pueblo welcomed the Board members and the public. He introduced Neil Weber, Director, Department of Environmental and Cultural Preservation and Myron Gonzales, Lead Technician of the Cultural Preservation Program. Menice S. Manzanares, Chair, asked the Board members and members of the public to introduce themselves.

2. PUBLIC COMMENT

Paul Schumann, ER/LANL, Mail Stop K498, Los Alamos, NM 87544, 505-667-5840

Mr. Schumann reported on the Sandia Task Force meeting that he attended on November 14. He encouraged the Board to connect with this Task Force that is a continuation of the Site Specific Advisory Board. He was impressed with their work on the Sandia landfill issue.

Tom Weidner, ChemRisk, Center for Disease Control Project on Historical Records

Mr. Weidner reported that the historical research into dosage records has been delayed due to security restrictions keeping project personnel from accessing the records. He hopes that these restrictions will be lifted soon so they can complete their research. A draft summary report on their progress to date is now available. The project will have a website by the end of year.

James Bearzi, Chief, Hazardous Waste Bureau, New Mexico Environment Department, 2044A Galisteo Street, Santa Fe, NM 87502,

505-827-1557

Dr. Bearzi reported on the Santa Fe Water Quality Task Force. The Santa Fe City Council is appointing the Task Force members. The New Mexico Environment Department’s Drinking Water Bureau is looking at any potential impacts of LANL’s operations on the drinking water supply. Dr. Bearzi suggested that the Task Force should also look at the Española sewage treatment problems that could impact Santa Fe’s drinking water.

Dr. Bearzi reported on the Interagency Flood Risk Assessment Team. This interagency team is looking at the impact on risk with contaminant transport in the Los Alamos canyons. This task force is following up on any potential impacts from flooding after the Cerro Grande fire. He invited the Board to attend the December 18 open house that will be held at the Hilton Hotel in Santa Fe.

Dr. Bearzi said that LANL’s RCRA Permit is up for re-issuance this year. The first part will be in draft form sometime this spring. Both the operating units and the Environmental Restoration program are involved. He offered to brief the Board if requested. The Board requested a briefing at the January meeting. A public comment period will be included in the re-issuance process.

A. Neil Weber, Director, Department of Environmental and Cultural Preservation for San Ildefonso Pueblo.

The funding for the Department comes from DOE, the Environmental Protection Agency, the State of New Mexico, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the Indian Health Service. The Department participates in joint sampling events with LANL and the New Mexico Environment Department. His Department reviews the air quality reports prepared by LANL. An Airnet and a Newnet station are co-located on Pueblo land. The Department protects cultural sites including historical and archeological sites. The Department of Energy and LANL are on San Ildefonso=s ancestral lands. The Pueblo works with LANL=s Environment, Safety and Health Division 20 to map the cultural and historical locations using GIS mapping systems. The air and water sample results are compared with samples taken by LANL and NMED. The results are shared with DOE and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The Department has a Community Outreach program. The Waste Isolation Pilot Plant funds the Emergency Response team at the Pueblo. The Department is assessing the Pueblo’s capability and developing a response plan. The Pueblo is involved in solid waste transfer and monitors drinking water quality and the fishing pond. The Pueblo has a liquid waste and sewage plant. The Pueblo is establishing a utilities department.

Mr. Weber reported on the effects of the Cerro Grande Fire on the Pueblo. The Department monitors the three hundred acres that were burned. The smoke effects are a big problem. The air monitoring stations were not in place at the time of the fire. A damaged area is sacred land near TA-54. The upper watershed for the Pueblo was burned. Run-off will be a problem particularly during this coming spring and summer monsoon season when run-off may flow through contaminated sites located on DOE-LANL property. The Pueblo is concerned about the transport of contaminants. The Department is now taking baseline samples of storm events. At present, no controls exist in Guaje canyon to stop the run-off from heavy storm events and the movement of burnt materials. The Pueblo took samples prior to the runoff, and coordinated samples with LANL and NMED through the use of automatic samplers and grab samples. Some rehabilitation has started in sacred areas, including cooperative logging with Jemez Pueblo.

Myron Gonzales was the producer of the video Closing the Circle. This video describes the experience and the perspective of San Ildefonso Pueblo living below Los Alamos. San Ildefonso is the only Native American Tribe to share contiguous borders with a DOE facility. Mr. Gonzales described the video as the first time to tell the story from a Pueblo perspective. He interviewed tribal members about the effects on their traditional society. The National Park Service and DOE funded this video that will be shown on public access TV.

Mr. Gonzales described the Pueblo=s efforts before the Indian Claims Commission. San Ildefonso pursues its court battle to restore its original land boundaries. This Pueblo is the last tribe to hold out and not settle its claims. This fifty year land fight is with the US Forest Service, and the Bureau of Land Management. He said that Santo Domingo and Sandia Pueblos settled with the government.

Mr. Gonzales requested the Board=s assistance in getting the video shown to the Secretary of Energy at DOE Headquarters. Ms. Manzanares promised that the Board would send a copy to the EM-22 headquarters staff and request that they view the video, and assist in the effort to have the DOE Secretary view the film.

Tim Martinez, a tribal member asked about the Board=s mission and views on WIPP transportation issues. He is concerned about environmental justice and the disposal of contaminants. Ms. Byrne explained that the Board=s recommendations are sent to the DOE Los Alamos Area Office and Headquarters in Washington, D.C.

Ms. Manzanares suggested that Board members participate in a potluck at the December Board meeting. The Board members asked for the following items to be on the December agenda: a report on WIPP shipments, Dr. John Till=s report on LANL=s air quality, and Dr. Bearzi=s overview report on LANL=s permit modification process.

Ms. Manzanares requested that the Bylaws Committee consisting of Fran Berting, Domingo Martinez, Jim Johnston, and Menice Manzanares meet soon to recommend changes in the Bylaws.

Ms. Manzanares reported that she is sending a letter to DOE about Board members who have missed Board meetings, and not serving on committees. She will recommend that three Board members be replaced. Local officials and community leaders are being asked for nominations. Ms. Manzanares thanked Ms. Moss, Mr. Johnston, Ms. Byrne and Ms. DuBois for their outreach efforts.

Ms. Byrne reported that the Board is seeking a facilitator for Board meetings. A

ATA Services is seeking additional candidates to act as facilitator for the January 24 meeting and retreat. Ms. Manzanares appointed a Committee to interview potential facilitators. The Committee members are Judith Moss, Jim Brannon,

Jim Johnston, and Menice Manzanares. The Board selected the date of January 20 as a tentative date for a Board retreat. A suggested location is the Hotel Loretto in Santa Fe.

Ms. Manzanares asked about the DOE approval for new Board members Jim Brannon and Dorothy Hoard. Ms. Byrne responded that DOE Headquarters has instituted a new approval process and we should be hearing soon.

Ms. Manzanares asked that this Committee to meet and choose a Committee Chair.

Mr. Johnston reported on the Transportation Symposium held in Santa Fe during November. The conference was well attended by 180 people and 21 exhibitors. The participants toured LANL=s Solid Waste Treatment program and the burned areas. The response to the conference was excellent. In January 2002 another transportation seminar is scheduled. Ms. Manzanares commended Mr. Johnston for his outstanding work on this event.

KRSN offered to conduct a live interview at 8:10 am Thursday after each Board meeting. Either Ms. Manzanares or Mr. Johnston will participate in the interviews.

F. Environmental Restoration Committee

Dr. Berting reported on the SSAB Long-Term Stewardship Conference held on October 26-27. She thanked Julie Canepa, Sandra Martinez and Paul Schumann for their assistance in preparing for the conference. Dr. Berting thanked Mr. Brannon who prepared the Board=s presentation. The conference statement requires action by this Board. Dr. Berting requested that Board members review the statement of principles, and structural changes. The Board will take a vote on whether to accept and support these principles during next month’s Board meeting.

Dr. Berting commented on the Draft Study on the Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement. She asked Board members to review this document and make comments. On page 29, the description of LANL begins. Mr. Schumann said that LANL made extensive comments and changes to the National Authorization Act document on Long-Term Stewardship. Mr. Schumann will give to the Board a new version of this text. He said that Jim Werner, DOE Headquarters Stewardship Office, is interested in meeting with the Board.

Dr. Berting announced the Risk Assessment Workshop to be held on December 2. The primary audience is Board members while it is a public meeting.

Dr. Berting said that the Environmental Restoration Committee will look at the draft long-term stewardship report at its December 4 meeting so the Board can vote on this matter at the December meeting.

Ms. Manzanares thanked Mr. Garcia for Chairing the Committee in the absence of Mr. Armijo. Mr. Garcia reported that the Committee met last week. The main topic was the contamination found in a drinking water well in Los Alamos.

4. ADJOURNMENT

The meeting adjourned at 9:00 p.m. Ms. Manzanares thanked the Board members for attending the meeting.

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 November 13, 2000.

Certified by:

___________________________

Menice Santistevan Manzanares, Chair Date

Los Alamos Citizens Advisory Board
P.O. Box 1665
Los Alamos, New Mexico 87544
(505) 662-1234  FAX (505) 662-4321
staff@lacab.org