Ahira's Hangar

David Zindell's Neverness, A Requiem for Homo Sapiens and all things Science Fiction and Fantasy
It is currently Fri Oct 11, 2024 11:02 am

All times are UTC




Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 1 post ] 
Author Message
 Post subject: Public safety letter prototype--local
PostPosted: Tue Jan 22, 2013 8:23 pm 
Offline
The Timekeeper
User avatar

Joined: Mon Nov 06, 2006 4:23 pm
Posts: 2354
Location: The Vild
This is a prototype petition from Citizens Action for a public hearing on the Sandia Labs Mixed Waste Landfill this leeching, along with the Kirtland jet fuel spill, poses a HUGE threat to public health in Albuquerque--little is known about this extremely serious danger to our drinking water. On behalf of Dan MCoy I will publish this numerous time-please feel free to share and copy and email this request to the two gentlemen below-Danlo

Secretary David Martin
New Mexico Environment Department
David.Martin@state.nm.us

John Kieling, Chief
NMED Hazardous Waste Bureau
john.kieling@state.nm.us

Dear Secretary Martin and Mr. Kieling,

I request that the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) hold an evidentiary public hearing for the Long-Term Monitoring and Maintenance Plan (LTMMP) for the Sandia National Laboratories’ Mixed Waste Landfill (MWL). Unresolved public concerns and technical issues must be fully examined.
The MWL is a dump located within the boundaries of Kirtland AFB with unlined pits and trenches above Albuquerque’s drinking water aquifer. The dump received radioactive and hazardous wastes from nuclear weapons production from 1959 to 1988. Sandia intends to leave up to 1.5 million cu ft of these wastes under a dirt cover about one mile from the children’s park at Mesa del Sol and near Isleta Pueblo.
There are 119 barrels of long lived plutonium wastes contained in the dump along with tons of depleted uranium, tritium, lead, beryllium, and solvents such as PCE, TCE and PCBs,. The MWL dump wastes have already begun to enter the groundwater and are poorly monitored. Nickel, chromium, cadmium and nitrates are in the groundwater. Cancer causing organic solvents are moving deeper beneath the MWL dump and are predicted to be in the groundwater by the Sandia Fate and Transport Computer Model.
The dump could be cleaned up now to avoid major aquifer contamination like that which has occurred from the jet fuel spill at Kirtland Air Force Base.
A reliable groundwater monitoring network has never been in place to acquire accurate data for making a decision to leave these wastes in place. The NMED, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other technical agencies have stated that the groundwater monitoring wells were put in the wrong locations, improperly sampled, had corroded well screens, and contaminated with Bentonite clay that hides evidence of contamination. Newer wells were improperly placed and drilled.
A 2006 TechLaw, Inc. report found the dirt cover inadequate, but the report was kept secret from the public until 2009 to allow the cover to be installed.
In 2010 the EPA Inspector General reported that EPA Region 6 technical staff withheld technical concerns from the public that the groundwater monitoring well network was defective. http://www.epa.gov/oig/reports/2010/201 ... P-0100.pdf
Sandia has not performed the required 5-year review for feasibility of excavation of the dump and the suitability of the dirt cover. The review is 2½ years overdue.
NMED should grant a public hearing for the Long Term Monitoring and Maintenance Plan and require performance of the 5 year review.

_________________
Give me golf clubs, fresh air and a beautiful partner, and you can keep the clubs and the fresh air.-
Jack Benny


Top
 Profile  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 1 post ] 

All times are UTC


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

cron
Powered by phpBB © 2000, 2002, 2005, 2007 phpBB Group