Following Las Conchas fire, according to the New Mexico Environment Department, 137-Cesium, 239-Plutonium and 241-Americum have been recorded in air sample monitoring units in various locations around Los Alamos Nuclear Laboratory. Managed by the DOE Radiological Assistance Program as requested by New Mexico Environment Department, the monitors, validated for accuracy by New Mexico Environment Department, Radiation Control Bureau, "show results in compliance with 'Dose Limits for Individual Members of the Public."'
New Mexico Environment Department record the following air test results:
The air monitoring results for 137-Cesium, 239-Plutonium, and 241-Americium are below air effluent Concentrations as specified in Table II of 20.3.4.461 NMAC, and are in compliance with “Dose Limits for Individual Members of the Public” 20.3.4.413 and “Compliance with Dose Limits for Individual Members of the Public” as specified under 20.3.4.414 NMAC.
1-MDA, Minimum Detectable Activity, is based on natural background, the time period of the measurement and the volume and was provided by DOE Radiological Assistance Program.
2-NDA (No Detectable Activity), means there is no measurable activity above the MDA.
An Energy News comment following the nuclear level recordings around Los Alamos by CB on July 16 was, "The people of the U.S.A. are being assaulted by the power industry. So is the rest of the northern hemisphere."
"The grave consequences of the neglect, and misinformation should be considered an act of WAR on it’s people. The power industry are in bed with the government and killing us like experimental mice."
Thebes, near Carson New Mexico, wrote:
"Near Carson NM I detected three hot particles on a swab from my solar array (a square meter), and one in an indoor air filter that had ran at about 8 cfm for 36 hours. Only one of these particles emitted enough gamma to find, they were primarily alpha emitters. I probably should test some more but got the info I needed from my home test a week ago. This seems to roughly coincide with my (uncalibrated) findings.
"Those in the smoke from the Los Conchas fire should try to avoid breathing heavy smoke or ash, wear a mask if going outside and you smell smoke, close up your home and turn on air filters if you smell smoke. There are occasional hot particles of alpha emitters in that smoke."
Avast new plutonium facility, the Chemistry and Metallurgy Research Replacement Nuclear Facility (CMRR-NF) is proposed at at Los Alamos Nuclear Laboratory, subject of the Los Alamos Study Group on Tuesday at Fuller Lodge in Los Alamos, at 2132 Central Avenue, from 6:30 to 8:30 pm. Greg Mello, head of the Los Alamos Study Group, is among those slated to speak.
The Obama Administration's proposed plutonium warhead core ("pit") factory complex in Los Alamos is to cost some $6 billion dollars according to Mello. According to congressional testimony of Donald Cook, Deputy Administrator for Defense Programs in the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) this spring, this facility would house "the nation's storehouse of plutonium."
"Is any part of this really necessary? We think not," Mello had told Dupré in June in an exclusive interview. "Does it really contribute to national security? Or, is the present fire yet another reminder that the nature of national security is changing before our eyes?"
Friday, the Republican-led House cut $1.1 billion (B) from Obama's proposed NNSA budget for FY2012. The cuts included $498 million from Obama's proposed nuclear "Weapons Activities" budget line.
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