In a message to Los Alamos National Laboratory employees, Director Mike Anastasio announced that he has reluctantly accepted a request from Andy Phelps, Associate Director for Environmental Programs, to be reassigned to other duties.
“Andy’s leadership in Environmental Programs has played a critical role in allowing the Laboratory to accomplish so much during the past nine months, including meeting nearly 100 deliverables specified under the Consent Order with the New Mexico Environment Department,” Anastasio said. “Under Andy’s guidance, the Laboratory has made tremendous strides in remediation, cleanup, and closure of unnecessary facilities.”
Despite these strides, Phelps indicated a desire to step down from his duties because he had been unable to cement effective relationships with the Laboratory’s regulators and stakeholders, stating that he felt it was in the best interests of the institution to do so.
Carolyn Mangeng, Phelps' deputy, will serve as Acting Associate Director for Environmental Programs until a permanent replacement is selected. The Laboratory Director is working with Phelps to determine Phelps’ future role.
“The Laboratory remains steadfast in its commitment to the NMED Consent Order and the clean up of legacy sites,” Anastasio said. “We will continue to protect the environment, the public and our workers and continue to develop innovative methods to conserve natural resources and minimize our environmental impacts.”
Los Alamos National Laboratory, a multidisciplinary research institution engaged in strategic science on behalf of national security, is operated by Los Alamos National Security, LLC, a team composed of Bechtel National, the University of California, The Babcock & Wilcox Company, and the Washington Division of URS for the Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration.
Los Alamos enhances national security by ensuring the safety and reliability of the U.S. nuclear stockpile, developing technologies to reduce threats from weapons of mass destruction, and solving problems related to energy, environment, infrastructure, health, and global security concerns.