Inside a permanent containment unit, workers size-reduced 158 corrugated metal pipes containing legacy cemented transuranic waste into sections using a hydraulic shear equipped with its own exhaust ventilation to reduce dust creation and support worker safety.
Los Alamos, New Mexico – Since October 2017, S&K Mission Support has been providing critical technical oversight and program support for the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Environmental Management Los Alamos Field Office (EM-LA) under the Los Alamos Technical Assistance Contract, a 10-year effort. The work centers on environmental cleanup at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), a historic site with decades of nuclear weapons research and production.
The mission at Los Alamos is part of a long-term federal initiative to address legacy waste and contamination stemming from over 50 years of government-sponsored research during the Manhattan Project and Cold War era. S&K provides technical subject matter expertise and professional services, supporting the safe disposition of radioactive materials, protection of regional water sources, and investigation and remediation of contaminated sites.
S&K’s 28-member team brings expertise in environmental science, radiological protection, nuclear safety, and communications and public affairs. Their responsibilities span a wide array of services including waste compliance, groundwater monitoring, records management, and community relations. Although S&K does not perform the hands-on cleanup, they play a vital role in evaluating field activities, analyzing challenges and identifying potential courses of action, and ensuring compliance with DOE and state requirements.
Subject matter expertise is focused in three primary areas: radioactive waste, environmental contamination (groundwater and soil) , and environmental sampling. With over 150 monitoring wells in place and frequent surface water sampling, S&K’s specialists work to ensure potential impacts are identified and confirm cleanup is effective. Subject matter experts coordinate regularly with state and federal agencies to ensure compliance. The Technical Assistance Contract team also assists in managing public-facing activities, including community forums and Citizen Advisory Board meetings.
Site tours for a variety of stakeholders are part of EM-LA’s commitment to transparency and engagement as it advances the LANL legacy cleanup mission. The S&K team recently supported a successful tour for members of the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board (DNFSB) to show the progress underway in addressing legacy transuranic (TRU) waste at LANL’s Technical Area 54, Area G. DNFSB Board members and technical staff viewed waste storage facilities and processing operations to prepare legacy TRU waste for disposition at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) near Carlsbad, New Mexico.
“We’re fortunate to work with a core team of federal employees who bring strong technical expertise and a collaborative mindset. They consistently build consensus with key partners, including the National Nuclear Security Administration, LANL, local communities, tribal nations, regulators, and the public. Their support has allowed us to expand the TAC team and enhance oversight of environmental investigation and cleanup efforts at LANL,” said Thomas McCrory, PG, TAC Program Manager.
With a contract valued at over $7 million and experience rooted in decades of environmental work, S&K continues to play a vital role in one of the nation’s most sensitive and significant environmental remediation efforts.
Left to Right Photo Captions:
The final buried corrugated metal pipe containing legacy cemented transuranic waste is retrieved at Technical Area 54, Area G with S&K oversight. A total of 158 pipes were retrieved.
An automated sampler collects stormwater at a wildfire burn scar upgradient from Los Alamos National Laboratory to help environmental professionals assess potential contaminants.
Installation of monitoring Well R-76 provides additional characterization of the hexavalent chromium plume.
