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.169366.1
HOUSE MEMORIAL 89
48
TH LEGISLATURE
- STATE OF NEW MEXICO -
FIRST SESSION
, 2007
INTRODUCED BY
John A. Heaton
A MEMORIAL
RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AND
STAKEHOLDER NEGOTIATIONS IN THE 2006 WASTE ISOLATION PILOT
PLANT (WIPP) PERMIT MODIFICATION.
WHEREAS, on October 16, 2006, Governor Bill Richardson and
Secretary Ron Curry, New Mexico department of environment,
issued a historic modification to the waste isolation pilot
plant (WIPP); and
WHEREAS, the modified permit incorporates the most
significant changes in WIPP's operations since the original
permit was issued in 1999, allows the disposal of remote-
handled transuranic (TRU) wastes, changes the waste
characterization process, adds new waste confirmation
procedures, increases the facility's waste storage capacity and
adds a new method for demonstrating that underground disposal
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rooms at WIPP comply with environmental performance standards
for volatile organic compounds; and
WHEREAS, the permit also requires the United States
department of energy and its operating contractor, Washington
TRU Solutions, to maintain an email notification list of people
and organizations interested in many of WIPP's operations; and
WHEREAS, the permit modification underscores WIPP's role
as an economic engine in southeastern New Mexico and was issued
without sacrificing environmental protection for all New
Mexicans; and
WHEREAS, the issuance of the modified permit truly
demonstrates the effectiveness of meaningful public
participation and stakeholder involvement; and
WHEREAS, the department of environment-led negotiations,
which began in March 2006 and lasted for more than two months,
intended to resolve issues that gave rise to opposition to the
draft permit; and
WHEREAS, the negotiations resulted in several important
agreements among the department of environment; the WIPP
permittees, which are the department of energy, owner and a co-
operator of WIPP, and Washington TRU Solutions, LLC, a co-
operator of WIPP; Southwest Research and Information Center;
Concerned Citizens for Nuclear Safety; Citizens for
Alternatives to Radioactive Dumping; the New Mexico office of
the attorney general; and other organizations and individuals
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who participated by phone; and
WHEREAS, the department of environment convened a public
hearing on the draft permit on May 31, 2006, and, after hearing
more than a week of technical testimony and public comment in
both Carlsbad and Santa Fe and considering volumes of evidence,
Governor Bill Richardson and Secretary Ron Curry issued a
permit that included the negotiated changes; and
WHEREAS, the negotiated permit is not only protective of
public health and the environment but is also protective of the
public's right to full disclosure of information at the WIPP
facility; and
WHEREAS, through the permit negotiations, the parties
agreed to several important provisions that will continue to
ensure the safe operation of WIPP and facilitate the free
exchange of information between WIPP, the department of
environment and persons and organizations interested in WIPP's
potential environmental impacts; and
WHEREAS, the team of committed permit writers and
attorneys, under the skillful leadership of James Bearzi, the
department of environment's hazardous waste bureau chief, the
department demonstrated sound science, strong leadership and
true commitment to the protection of public health and the
environment;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that recognition be
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extended to the New Mexico department of environment and the
WIPP permit team of James Bearzi; Steve Zappe, WIPP project
leader; Kate Lynnes, former department environmental scientist;
and Chuck Noble, assistant general counsel, for their
negotiation efforts; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be
transmitted to Governor Bill Richardson, Secretary Ron Curry
and James Bearzi.
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