Udall, Heinrich, Luján Statement On National Nuclear Security Administration’s Review Of Los Alamos National Security Contract

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Tom Udall (D-N.M.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), and Congressman Ben Ray Luján (N.M.-03) released the following statement in response to the National Nuclear Security Administration’s (NNSA) review of the Los Alamos National Security (LANS) contract:

“We have been informed of NNSA’s performance review of LANS and NNSA’s decision not to extend the LANS contract. Among the reasons cited by NNSA were a serious safety incident involving a worker and waste-handling mistakes that have had an expensive and severe impact on LANL, WIPP and DOE's nuclear waste cleanup

“We have high expectations of the Department of Energy and its contractors that they will go above and beyond to ensure our communities are not endangered. DOE must hold all of its contractors accountable and be responsible stewards of federal funds. It also must take the appropriate actions under the LANL contract that are in the best long-term interests of this essential national asset and that ensure the safety of workers, the community, and the environment.

“Los Alamos National Laboratory employs some of the best and brightest minds in the country whose contributions are indispensable to our national security. The lab also strengthens our economy by providing quality jobs, and we will always fight to protect its mission. As DOE prepares a new contract proposal, assuring continuity for the employees at LANL and the high-quality scientific, energy, and security contributions they make to our nation will be paramount. We are confident that Los Alamos will continue to have a critical role in national and international security, research and science. We expect to receive further details and regular briefings from NNSA as the process moves forward in the new year.”