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Los Alamos National Laboratory’s (LANL’s or the Laboratory’s) annual site environmental reports are prepared each year by the Laboratory’s environmental organizations as required by U.S. Department of Energy Order 231.1B, Administrative Change 1, Environment, Safety, and Health Reporting, and Order 458.1, Administrative Change 4, Radiation Protection of the Public and the Environment.
The Los Alamos Enterprise Analysis and Data System (LEADS) is an integrated database system and analysis application used to examine the Laboratory’s assets and equities. The data mapping framework is structured to follow laboratory organizations, programs, geographical technical areas, and other functional groupings, such as facilities and equipment. LEADS application goal is to quantify the size and information related to the current condition of assets and equities. The data and inter-dependent relationships allow for insights and further analyses to be conducted of current program-of-records, the laboratory agenda, and “what-if” scenario studies. The understanding and the outputs of this application will support understanding of the laboratory’s current state, planning, and decision-making processes.
Los Alamos National Laboratory (Laboratory) annual site environmental reports are prepared each year by the Laboratory’s environmental organizations as required by U.S. Department of Energy Order 231.1B, Administrative Change 1, Environment, Safety, and Health Reporting, and Order 458.1, Administrative Change 4, Radiation Protection of the Public and the Environment.
Los Alamos National Laboratory scientists and technicians conduct thousands of experiments a year, delving into the fundamental nature of everything from supernovas to subatomic particles. One set of instruments used to better understand the fundamental nature of various materials are 10 scientific gun systems that fire various projectiles at high-tech targets to create enormous velocities, pressures, and temperatures - and using laser, x-ray, and other diagnostics - explore the very nature of metals and other materials. The hundreds of gun-based experiments conducted every year at the Laboratory require a highly-skilled staff of scientists and technicians, and has given rise to a special organization called the "gun working group" to foster open communications, cooperation, problem-solving, and a healthy safety culture.
?he chromium plume at Los Alamos National Laboratory is a complex contaminant-remediation site with spatial extent of several square kilometers. It is located in a regional aquifer near water-supply wells and other points of compliance. The plume originated on the ground surface and the contaminant migrated along complex pathways through a thick vadose zone (∼300 m) that includes intermediate lateral zones of saturation and vertical preferential flow paths. Here we discuss the development of a modeling computational framework for the site. The framework work incorporates data assimilation and model-results analysis tools including decision support techniques. The decision tools are demonstrated using synthetic problems consistent with the interpretation of existing site data and site modeling results. The analyses aim at robust and efficient environmental management of the plume and explore a series of alternative remedial options. The remedial options include natural attenuation (NA), enhanced attenuation (EA), contaminant source removal (in the vadose zone), contaminant extraction (in the regional aquifer at the plume centroid and peripheries), biogeochemical remediation (injection of fluids stimulating growth of organisms in the aquifer impacting chromium concentrations), as wells as hydraulic controls on the groundwater flow and transport in the vadose zone and the regional aquifer. The applied model analyses and decision-support algorithms are implemented in code MADS (Model Analyses for Decision Support; http://mads.lanl.gov). MADS is an open-source framework for model-based decision support employing system and physics simulation models. (authors)
Our core mission is to ensure the U.S. nuclear deterrent. Our stockpile is as unique in manufacturing as the engine of this sports car. Los Alamos’s mission is ensure the safety, reliability, and performance of stockpile. Los Alamos uses a combination of fundamental science, sub-critical testing, and high performance computing and modeling to accomplish this mission
The following submittal has been prepared by the U.S. Department of Energy and Los Alamos National Security, LLC (collectively the Permittees) to request a modification to the November 2010 Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) Hazardous Waste Facility Permit (Permit). This modification has been prepared as a Class 1 permit modification requiring prior approval by the New Mexico Environment Department-Hazardous Waste Bureau (NMEDHWB) (also known as a Class 1 * permit modification) as described in the New Mexico Administrative Code, Title 20, Chapter 4, Part 1 (20.4.1.900 NMAC) [incorporating Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Title 40 §§ 270.42 (a) ]. LANL's Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) identification number is EPA ID No. NM0890010515. The permit modification includes revisions to Table K-l , SWMUs (Solid Waste Management Units) and AOCs (Areas of Concern) Requiring Corrective Action, which is included in Permit Attachment K, Listings ofSWMUs and AOCs. The following summary describes the proposed modification and rationale behind the modification and contains a revised version of the relevant page of Table K-l incorporating the modification (Attachment 1). The Permittees request that the revised Table K-I be included in the Permit by the NMED-HWB upon approval of this permit modification request. Pits 38 (AOC 54-023) and 39 (AOC 54-024) were recently designated as areas of concern (AOCs) and shall be included in Table K-l of Attachment K, Listings ofSWMUs and AOCs.
This document contains a notification for a Class 1 Permit Modification to modify the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) Hazardous Waste Facility Permit (Permit). The text modifications are provided herein and have been made to the Permit by the Department of Energy (DOE) and Los Alamos National Security, LLC (LANS), collectively the Permittees. The modifications to the text of the Permit have been identified using red text and red lines through the texts for deletions. Description: This modification includes three changes. One change includes an address change within the Attachment D, Contingency Plan, and the remaining changes correct two typographical errors in Permit Section 2.
Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) helps Los Alamos National Laboratory solve national security challenges through excellence in mission-focused science, technology, and engineering (ST&E). The Department of Energy (DOE) Laboratory and Site-Directed Research and Development programs are among the most impactful sources of research and development for our Nation. The heart of the LDRD program is high-risk, high-reward research that creates innovative technical solutions for some of the Nation’s most difficult challenges. The LDRD programs follow strategic guidance derived from the missions of the U.S. Department of Energy, the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), and the Laboratory.
From the beginning of the Manhattan Project in the early 1940s, the women of what would become Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) worked in technical positions alongside their male counterparts, played a key role as computers, and worked in administrative jobs as secretaries, phone operators, bookkeepers, and on behalf of the U.S. Army in the Women’s Army Corps. Throughout the history of the Laboratory, women experts at LANL helped establish and lead important national and international security programs, with careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Over time, the women of Los Alamos have come together under various Employee Resource Groups, such as the Atomic Women, to help the next generation succeed in their technical fields. The Laboratory’s commitment to diversity and inclusion continues to this day, with current Laboratory Director Thom Mason leading LANL as the first national laboratory to join the Gender Champions in Nuclear Policy.
The project location is in Los Alamos Canyon east of the ice rink facility at the intersection of West and Omega roads (Figure 1). Forty eight parking spaces will be constructed on the north and south side of Omega Road, and a lighted walking path will be constructed to the ice rink. Some trees will be removed during this action. A guardrail of approximately 400 feet will be constructed along the north side of West Road to prevent unsafe parking in that area.
This letter is in response to the October 18, 2021 letter from David Gray, Acting Regional Administrator, to Mr. Theodore Wyka, Manager of the National Nuclear Security Administration’s Los Alamos Field Office (NA-LA). That letter requested additional information regarding the Application for remediation of the Flanged Tritium Waste Containers (FTWCs) at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) Technical Area 54, Area G. The Emissions Management Plan for the FTWC Venting Project is attached.
The purpose of this letter is to notify the New Mexico Environment Department-Hazardous Waste Bureau (NMED-HWB) of a Class 1 Permit Modification to the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) Hazardous Waste Facility Permit issued to the Department of Energy (DOE) and Los Alamos National Security, LLC (LANS) in November 2010. The modification adds structures to the container storage unit at Technical Area (TA) 54 Area G, Pad 11. Permit Section 3.1(3) requires that changes to the location of a structure that does not manage hazardous waste shall be changed within the Permit as a Class 1 modification without prior approval in accordance with Code of Federal Regulations, Title 40 (40 CFR), {section}270.42(a)(1). Structures have been added within Dome 375 located at TA-54, Area G, Pad 11 that will be used in support of waste management operations within Dome 375 and the modular panel containment structure located within Dome 375, but will not be used as waste management structures. The Class 1 Permit Modification revises Figure 36 in Attachment N, Figures; and Figure G.12-1 in Attachment G.12, Technical Area 54, Area G, Pad 11 Outdoor Container Storage Unit Closure Plan. Descriptions of the structures have also been added to Section A.4.2.9 in Attachment A, TA - Unit Descriptions; and Section 2.0 in Attachment G.12, Technical Area 54, Area G, Pad 11 Outdoor Container Storage Unit Closure Plan. Full description of the permit modification and the necessary changes are included in Enclosure 1. The modification has been prepared in accordance with 40 CFR {section}270.42(a)(l). This package includes this letter and an enclosure containing a description of the permit modification, text edits of the Permit sections, and the revised figures (collectively LA-UR-12-22808). Accordingly, a signed certification page is also enclosed. Three hard copies and one electronic copy of this submittal will be delivered to the NMED-HWB.
As an engineering team within a facilities-driven organization, Engineering Services – Science and Technology Operations (ES-STO), supports Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), playing a pivotal role in the U.S. nuclear stockpile mission. This report outlines ES-STO’s contributions through the installation of crucial systems such as HVAC units, compressors, and scientific specialty equipment, as well as providing expert consultation to optimize laboratory operations. ES-STO’s goal is to ensure that LANL's infrastructure and research facilities are aligned with mission-critical needs, supporting both operational efficiency and safety in the nuclear stockpile management and maintenance. This report discusses the installation processes, ongoing consultations, and the significant impact of our efforts on national security objectives.
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) relies on laboratory experiments and computer-based models to verify the reliability of the nation's nuclear stockpile. Sandia National Laboratories/New Mexico (SNL/NM) tests various materials in extreme environments designed to mimic those of nuclear explosions using the Z machine. The Z machine is a key tool in the National Nuclear Security Administration's (NNSA) stockpile stewardship mission and is used to study the dynamic properties of nuclear weapon materials. In 2006, SNL/NM and Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) defining experiments to be conducted in the Z machine involving plutonium (Pu) provided by LANL. Five Pu experiments have been completed with as many as 20 more planned through 2016. The experimental containment vessel used for the experiment and containing the Pu residues, becomes transuranic (TRU) waste after the experiment and termination of safeguards and is considered a LANL waste stream. Each containment vessel is placed in a 55-gallon Type A drum or standard waste box (SWB) for shipment back to LANL for final certification and eventual disposal at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP). The experimental containment vessels are greater than 99% metallic materials (ferrous and non-ferrous metals). In addition to the Pu targets, detonators with high explosives (HE) are used in the experiments to isolate the containment vessel from the Z machine as energy is delivered to the Pu samples. The characterization requirements, transportation issues, required documentation, and the approvals needed before shipments were challenging and required close coordination between SNL/NM, Sandia Site Office, LANL, Los Alamos Site Office, Washington TRU Solutions, Inc., the Central Characterization Project, and the Carlsbad Field Office. Between 2006 and 2010, representatives from SNL/NM and LANL worked to develop an approved path forward to meet the requirements of all stakeholders. This project clearly demonstrates successful cooperation between LANL and SNL/NM, and support from the LASO, SSO, CBFO, WTS, and CCP. Key elements were communication and documented plans with responsible parties and due dates. Now that the first successful shipment has been accomplished, it is believed that future shipments will become a more routine activity. (authors)
Between May 2016 and July 2017 Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) packaged sixty eight Model 9979 Type AF containers with solid, non -combustible low -level waste (LLW) in accordance with S-SARP -G-00006, R4, Safety Analysis Report for Packagings, Model 9979 Type AF Shipping Package. The LLW items were packed into inner metal containers (convenience cans). There are no additional materials inside convenience cans, and the material was controlled during loading to ensure each Model 9979 package has less than 350 grams (total) of U -235. All LANL packages include an insulation bag and top, and 5.7 kg of granular boron carbide. The minimum void volume fraction that is present in LANL containers is calculated to be 48%.
The Los Alamos National Laboratory Computational Physics Workshop is intended to educate select students in problems of computational physics, while exciting them about problems of particular interest to LANL. The long term goal is to train a cadre of future researchers with strong connections to LANL and both interest and expertise in the problems LANL faces. This year’s workshop ran from June 10 – August 16, 2019 and once again attracted a phenomenal group of students, whose work is presented in the following pages. The students worked with LANL staff mentors in teams of two, doing original research. In addition, they attended a lecture series focusing on both the basics and the cutting edge challenges of computational physics (Table 1). A new item this year was a modification to our Meet LANL series of brown-bag lunch session, moving from focusing on individual researchers to panel presentations from the different groups within XCP. As always, the mentors were drawn from across disciplines and divisions. Projects looked physics ranging from quantum interactions, up to solar system development.
The Los Alamos Neutron Science Center (LANSCE) facilities for Nuclear Science consist of a high-energy "white" neutron source (Target 4) with 6 flight paths, three low-energy nuclear science flight paths at the Lujan Center, and a proton reaction area. The neutron beams produced at the Target 4 complement those produced at the Lujan Center because they are of much higher energy and have shorter pulse widths. The neutron sources are driven by the 800-MeV proton beam of the LANSCE linear accelerator. With these facilities, LANSCE is able to deliver neutrons with energies ranging from a milli-electron volt to several hundreds of MeV, as well as proton beams with a wide range of energy, time and intensity characteristics. The facilities, instruments and research programs are described briefly.