LANL News:

The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) announced its findings today that construction of the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) Electrical Power Capacity Upgrade Project (DOE/EA-2199) would yield no significant impact to the environment.

The transmission line installation project will cross lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the U.S. Forest Service, Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF).

The EA analyzed the construction and operation of a new 115 kilovolt (kV) power transmission line to upgrade LANL’s existing electrical infrastructure. Electrical power supply forecasts project that existing transmission lines serving LANL and Los Alamos County will reach capacity in 2027. This jeopardizes the electrical power supply necessary to meet mission requirements.

NNSA, U.S. Forest Service, and the BLM coordinated to assess the impacts of the project. Additionally, the participating agencies worked with neighboring Tribes and stakeholders on a Memorandum of Agreement to avoid or mitigate potential impacts from the project.

The EA provides that amendments will be made to the 2022 Forest Plan for the Santa Fe National Forest that would allow for the designation of a utility corridor and permanent easement on SFNF-administered lands. 

The Los Alamos National Laboratory Electrical Power Capacity Upgrade Project (DOE/EA-2199) and Finding of No Significant Impact are available at: https://www.energy.gov/nepa/doeea-2199-los-alamos-national-laboratory-electrical-power-capacity-upgrade-project