LA-UR-17-27987 Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. Title: Los Alamos National Laboratory 2016 Annual Site Environmental Report Author(s): Hansen, Leslie Ann Intended for: Report Environmental Programs Issued: 2017-09-26 (rev.1) Disclaimer: Los Alamos National Laboratory, an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer, is operated by the Los Alamos National Security, LLC for the National Nuclear Security Administration of the U.S. Department of Energy under contract DE-AC52-06NA25396. By approving this article, the publisher recognizes that the U.S. Government retains nonexclusive, royalty-free license to publish or reproduce the published form of this contribution, or to allow others to do so, for U.S. Government purposes. Los Alamos National Laboratory requests that the publisher identify this article as work performed under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Energy. Los Alamos National Laboratory strongly supports academic freedom and a researcher's right to publish; as an institution, however, the Laboratory does not endorse the viewpoint of a publication or guarantee its technical correctness. Los Alamos National Laboratory ENVIRONMENTALAnnual Site REPORT Published 2017 featuring data from 2016 Annual Site Environmental Report 2016 1 Los Alamos National Laboratory Governing Policy for the Environment We are committed to act as stewards of our environment to achieve our mission in accordance with all applicable environmental requirements. We set continual improvement objectives and targets, measure and document our progress, and share our results with our workforce, sponsors, and public. Soil sampling at Los Alamos National Laboratory We reduce our environmental risk through legacy cleanup, pollution prevention, and long-term sustainability programs. Annual Site Environmental Report for 2016 LA-UR-17-27987 Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. Bird banding at Los Alamos National Laboratory Cover design and photo by Phillip Noll, EPC-ES This report has been reproduced directly from the best available copy. It is available electronically on the web at http://www.lanl.gov/environment/environmental-report.php. It is available to U.S. Department of Energy employees and contractors from the Office of Scientific and Technical Information P.O. Box 62 Oak Ridge, TN 37831 (423) 576-8401 It is available to the public from the National Technical Information Service U.S. Department of Commerce Small mammal studies at Los Alamos National Laboratory 5285 Port Royal Rd. Springfield, VA 22616 This report was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an agency of the U.S. Government. Neither Los Alamos National Security, LLC, the U.S. Government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees make any warranty, express or implied, or assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represent that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by Los Alamos National Security, LLC, the U.S. Government, or any agency thereof. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of Los Alamos National Security, LLC, the U.S. Government, or any agency thereof. LA‐UR‐17‐27987 Issued September 2017 Los Alamos National Laboratory 2016 Annual Site Environmental Report Associate Directorate for Environment, Safety, and Health 505‐667‐4218 Environmental Protection and Compliance Division 505‐667‐2211 Environmental Stewardship Group 505‐665‐8855 Environmental Compliance Programs Group 505‐667‐0666 Waste Management Programs Group 505‐667‐8160 Waste Management Services Group 505‐667‐2001 Associate Directorate for Environmental Management 505‐606‐2337 Environmental Remediation Program 505‐665‐3388 ABSTRACT Los Alamos National Laboratory’s (the Laboratory’s) annual site environmental reports are prepared annually by the Laboratory’s environmental organizations, as required by U.S. Department of Energy Order 231.1B, Administrative Change 1, Environment, Safety, and Health Reporting, and Order 458.1, Administrative Change 3, Radiation Protection of the Public and the Environment. The following chapters in this report discuss our success in complying with environmental laws, regulations, and orders (Chapter 2, Compliance Summary); how we manage the Laboratory’s environmental performance (Chapter 3, Environmental Programs); how we monitor for air emissions of radioactive materials and climate conditions (Chapter 4, Air Quality); how we monitor for effects of Laboratory operations on groundwater quality (Chapter 5, Groundwater Monitoring); how we monitor the movement of chemicals and radionuclides by storm water runoff and the levels of chemicals and radionuclides in deposited sediment (Chapter 6, Watershed Quality); how we monitor for the presence, levels, and effects of chemicals and radionuclides in plants, animals, soil, and vegetation (Chapter 7, Ecosystem Health); and finally, what radionuclide dose or risk from chemical exposure members of the public may experience as a result of Laboratory operations (Chapter 8, Public Dose and Risk Assessment). This report follows plain language guidelines, as required for federal agencies by the Plain Language Act of 2010. More information about plain language can be found at http://www.plainlanguage.gov/index.cfm. You will notice we have substantially reduced the use of acronyms and abbreviations and are using active voice and personal pronouns. We hope you find this report useful. If you have suggestions for improving this report, additional questions, or want a copy of this report, please contact us at [email protected], or call Environmental Communication and Public Involvement at 505‐667‐0216. This report, its supplemental tables, and the 2016 Annual Site Environmental Report Summary are available at http://www.lanl.gov/environment/environmental‐report.php. Additional inquiries or comments regarding these annual reports may be directed to National Nuclear Security Administration Los Alamos National Laboratory Los Alamos Field Office Environmental Protection and Compliance Division 3747 West Jemez Road or P.O. Box 1663, MS K499 Los Alamos, NM 87544 Los Alamos, NM 87545 Telephone: 505‐667‐5491 Telephone: 505‐667‐2211 Los Alamos National Laboratory Environmental Report 2016 iv CONTENTS Chapter Authors and Contributors ................................................................................. xviii Executive Summary ..................................................................................................... ES‐1 1.0 Introduction ........................................................................................................ 1‐1 Background and Purpose .............................................................................................................. 1‐1 Background .................................................................................................................................... 1‐1 Purpose .......................................................................................................................................... 1‐2 Environmental Setting ................................................................................................................. 1‐2 Location ......................................................................................................................................... 1‐2 Geology ......................................................................................................................................... 1‐4 Hydrology ...................................................................................................................................... 1‐4 Biological Resources ....................................................................................................................... 1‐6 Cultural Resources.......................................................................................................................... 1‐6 Climate .......................................................................................................................................... 1‐7 Laboratory Activities and Facilities ................................................................................................ 1‐7 References ................................................................................................................................ 1‐10 2.0 Compliance Summary .......................................................................................... 2‐1 Management of Hazardous and Mixed Wastes ............................................................................... 2‐8 Resource Conservation and Recovery Act ....................................................................................... 2‐8 Federal Facility Compliance Order for Mixed Wastes .................................................................... 2‐13 Solid Nonhazardous Waste Disposal ............................................................................................ 2‐13 Radiation Protection and Management of Radiological Wastes ..................................................... 2‐13 DOE Order 458.1 Chg 3, Radiation Protection of the Public and the Environment .......................