nuclear-news

First of four containers of tritium waste at LANL has been vented

By Alaina Mencinger amencinger@sfnewmexican.com
 Sep 16, 2025 

The first of four flanged tritium waste containers awaiting removal from Los Alamos National Laboratory has been vented, the New Mexico Environment Department announced Tuesday afternoon.

The container can now be moved for treatment at LANL and then, eventually, to an off-site disposal area.

No internal pressure was found in the first container, according to the National Nuclear Security Administration, suggesting the inner containers in the flanged tritium waste container hadn’t leaked. Air monitoring did not show an increase of tritium beyond background levels, the federal agency wrote…………………………………

This weekend, several groups, including Communities for Clean Water, urged state and federal officials to stay the venting and requested additional guidance on precautionary measures. The New Mexico Environmental Law Center drafted a letter to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Friday asking the state leader to halt the process.

“This project is the direct result of decades of mismanagement,” Joni Arends of Concerned Citizens for Nuclear Safety stated in a news release ahead of scheduled weekend venting. “Instead of investing in real solutions like filtration or long-term storage until decay, DOE is forcing our communities to accept dangerous shortcuts.” https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/first-of-four-containers-of-tritium-waste-at-lanl-has-been-vented/article_4b5cf404-0458-4880-ba3f-7a1c754a500e.html

September 23, 2025 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | environment, USA