Circle your calendar today to prevent more plutonium tomorrow!
On Wednesday, January 29, from 6pm to 8pm Pacific Time, the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) will hold a virtual public hearing about its recent, surprise announcement that it plans “Enhanced Plutonium Facility Utilization” at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. The NNSA plans to significantly increase the allowable quantities of nuclear weapons-grade plutonium stored at the Livermore Lab.
The plan would likewise raise the allowable quantities to be trucked in and out of the Lab, using roads and freeways such as the nearby I-580. Further, according to the Federal Register Notice, this sudden change would enable the Lab to conduct riskier operations with plutonium above what is currently authorized. The NNSA plan could also allow increases of other nuclear materials in addition to plutonium.
LINK: Public Hearing on Wednesday, January 29, 2025 – 6:00pm-8:00pm PST. Zoom Link for public hearing: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87030530202
For more info about this dangerous increase, click here for our blog.
The NNSA notice states the public hearing will include an agency presentation and an opportunity to make oral “formal public comments.” Comments can also be made in writing until February 14th.
Tri-Valley CAREs has requested an extension for this very short public comment period, linked here. Please use our letter to ask the NNSA to increase the time allowed for public comments and to hold a second public hearing.
Your request or an extension can be offered as part of your comment on January 29. And, please also contact your member of Congress to alert them of the NNSA plan to increase plutonium at Livermore Lab and, as a constituent, ask them to write a letter to NNSA supporting the extension of the public comment period. Send the request to Alan Chen at the address below.
SEND WRITTEN COMMENTS TO:
Mr. Alan Chen, NEPA Document Manager
National Nuclear Security Administration, Livermore Field Office
7000 East Avenue, L-293
Livermore, CA 94550-9234
SUBMIT COMMENTS BY EMAIL: [email protected]
OR VIA PHONE: 833-778-0508 to leave a message
THE PROCESS: The NNSA is preparing a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act. Therefore, comments at this stage are most effectively focused on what the public wants the NNSA to analyze in its SEIS. In other words, what do you think should be included in the document.
For example, you can ask them to include potential alternatives to the proposed action (including not raising the limit); ask them to include what experiments will be done with the plutonium; ask them to include the connections are to NNSA’s national plan to produce new plutonium pits (bomb cores) for new nuclear warheads; ask them to include potential accident scenarios; ask that they the potential impacts on workers, the public and the environment; ask them to include the transportation risks; ask them to include the security risks of holding large quantities of plutonium in a populated area; and, of course, do add any specific community conditions or concerns that you believe NNSA should consider, etc.
To expand on the above issues, Tri-Valley CAREs will put together some talking points in the coming days. Check our website at www.trivalleycares.org for them.
ADDENDUM: Scoping comments will be considered as NNSA produces a draft SEIS. By law, there will be another opportunity to make comments on the draft document after they release it. There will be much more specific information at that time about the quantities and types of plutonium they seek to allow on site, the types of experiments, the security enhancements they plan to make, the potential environmental impacts from both routine and accidental releases that could occur, etc.
It is important that your voice is expressed at this initial hearing! Join us in telling NNSA what to include in the document. So, put Wednesday, January 29 on your calendar – and stay tuned for more on this important issue.