Secretary Kenney, who heads the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED), testified before the Radioactive and Hazardous Materials Committee of the state legislature on Wednesday, October 15. What he said was stunning:
· DOE has an institutional bias towards New Mexico.
· This bias is inequitable and we need to teach people [federal agencies] how to treat us. We haven’t stepped up and held the federal government accountable.
· Every federal agency needs to be told that, if you’re dealing with NM, you’re going to put us in the lead position or you’re going to lose “and it’s not gonna be pretty.”
· NM is shouldering the nation’s only nuclear waste repository and we, not WIPP, are the crown jewel of this whole legacy.
· other states are benefitting while NM loses. DOE gives a lot more money to other states and prioritizes their waste over NM, who hosts the waste dump.
· NM is being told to shoulder always greater efforts for the nation's defense, while receiving always greater risks.
· He is considering, with the governor’s approval, more drastic options to enforce the permit.
Even more stunning were the comments of the two Republicans on the committee (Senators Thornton and Brantley). They asked what they, as legislators, could do to help the situation and that they stand ready to help however they can.
These leaders could use some support and we can give it. They need to know that we have their back if they step out and get drastic with DOE, exactly what we want them to do.
Contacts and messages:
1. State Senators Anthony L. Thornton (anthony.thornton@nmlegis.gov, 505-946-5569) and Crystal Brantley (crystal.brantley@nmlegis.gov, 505-946-5585)
Message:
Dear Senator ______,
We support your comments to Secretary Kenney during the most recent Radioactive and Hazardous Materials Committee meeting. Secretary Kenney's report on how the DOE is not prioritizing the movement of legacy waste at LANL to WIPP is unacceptable.
We follow this issue closely because we know the risk is ours if a wildfire reaches the radioactive waste in tents at LANL. Plutonium released in a fire would be devastating. The waste must be moved to WIPP, where it will be safer, before the next wildfire.
Thank you for understanding the importance of this issue. Many of your constituents will support your efforts to move this waste.
Sincerely,
Your name
2. Secretary Kenney (james.kenney@env.nm.gov 505-470-6161 or 505-618-0408), New Mexico Environment Department
Message:
Dear Secretary Kenney,
We support your testimony at the most recent meeting of the Radiological and Hazardous Materials Committee concerning the legacy waste sitting unsafely at LANL. We follow this issue closely because it is such a risk to New Mexicans.
It is time for New Mexico to force the DOE to do what it has committed to do. We support any actions you take that protect our health and property and put New Mexico first!
Sincerely,
Your name
