From LANL:

The U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration’s (NNSA) Los Alamos Field Office and Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) received Temporary Authorization from the New Mexico Environment Department to safely perform the controlled depressurization of headspace gas from four flanged tritium waste containers at LANL’s Technical Area 54, Area G.

The “Transmittal of Notification of Planned Start of a Temporary Authorization Request” is posted in the LANL Electronic Public Reading Room at https://eprr.lanl.gov/.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency granted its approval for this operation in March 2025. 

NNSA and Triad National Security LLC, LANL’s management and operating contractor, will provide information to Congressional, state, tribal, and local governments regarding the schedule for depressurization activities and completion of the operation. NNSA’s intent is to schedule depressurization activities such that it avoids Pueblo Feast Days and known special Tribal/Pueblo events. 

Following the controlled depressurization operation, the containers will be safely transported to LANL Weapons Engineering Tritium Facility to be treated and packaged for permanent disposal at an appropriate off-site facility. This will resolve a safety concern and is an important milestone in the cleanup of Area G.  

This operation will be conducted with the utmost considerations for safety to LANL employees, the surrounding communities, and the environment. LANL engineers have done careful analysis of the controlled depressurization process and will monitor it in real-time to ensure safety. For more information about the process and to view the video walkthrough, please visit: https://www.lanl.gov/engage/environment/ftwc.