Laboratory employees and the general public can attend several meetings planned next week on the National Nuclear Security Administration's proposed transformation of the nation's nuclear weapons complex.
Meetings are planned in Los Alamos, Santa Fe, Española, Socorro, and Albuquerque (see box below).
The meetings are part of the National Nuclear Security Administration's proposed complex transformation to a smaller, safer, more secure, and less expensive nuclear weapons complex that leverages the scientific and technical capabilities of its workforce and meets national security requirements.
As part of the proposed complex transformation, the Laboratory is NNSA's preferred alternative site for plutonium research, development, and limited manufacturing, along with nuclear weapons design and engineering, and supercomputing. Read a fact sheet on the preferred alternative.
"This public participation process is important for the future of the Laboratory, and I encourage you to participate," said Laboratory Director Michael Anastasio. "Informed decision-making on such an important issue is essential, and I believe that your perspective as employees would be welcomed and valued by NNSA.
"I firmly believe that the preferred alternative provides a positive step for national security and sets a course for this Laboratory that will ensure the preeminence of science and engineering for decades to come."
Employees and others who would like to present comments orally at the hearings must register upon arrival at the hearing. NNSA will allot three to five minutes, depending upon the number of speakers, to each individual wishing to speak so as to ensure that as many people as possible have the opportunity to speak. More time may be allotted by the hearing moderator as circumstances allow.
NNSA officials will be available to discuss the Draft Complex Transformation Supplemental Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement and answer questions during the first hour. NNSA will then hold a plenary session at each public hearing in which officials will explain the Draft Complex Transformation SPEIS and the analyses in it.
Following the plenary session, the public will have an opportunity to provide oral and written comments. Oral comments from the hearings and written comments submitted during the comment period will be considered by NNSA in preparing the Final Complex Transformation SPEIS."
Writen comments are being accepted through April 10. Click here to send a written comment.
See the Laboratory's new complex transformation Web page.
Meeting schedule Socorro: • 6-10 p.m., Monday (March 10), Macey Center, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, 801 Leroy Place Albuquerque: 11 a.m.-3 p.m. and 6-10 p.m., Tuesday, March 11, Albuquerque Convention Center, 401 Second St., N.W. Los Alamos: • 6-10 p.m. March 12 - Los Alamos Hilltop House, 400 Trinity Drive at Central Ave. • 11 a.m.-3 p.m. March 13, Los Alamos Hilltop House, 400 Trinity Drive at Central Ave. Santa Fe: • 6-10 p.m. March 13, Genoveva Chavez Community Center, 3221 Rodeo Road Española: • 6-10 p.m. March 27, San Gabriel Mision y Convento, Plaza de Española, 1 Calle de las Españolas. |