NNSA NEWS RELEASE

The Department of Energy National Nuclear Security Administration’s (DOE/NNSA) Los Alamos Field Office has issued a Floodplain Assessment for the West Road Post and Cable Fencing Project at Technical Area 03 (Floodplain Assessment) for a 15-day public review and comment period commencing with publication of this notice. The comment period will end on Feb. 14, 2022.

DOE/NNSA is proposing to install post and cable or in-kind barriers along West Road at selected locations near the Los Alamos County ice-skating rink in Los Alamos Canyon at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). The proposed project is intended to improve vehicular and pedestrian safety on West Road by reducing traffic hazards associated with unsafe roadside parking and reduce wildland fire hazards associated with vehicles driving and parking on vegetation. West Road crosses approximately 0.35 miles (mi.) (1,900 feet (ft.)) of the Los Alamos Canyon floodplain at the bottom of Los Alamos Canyon. Project activities within the floodplain include blocking access to the informal roadside parking along either side of West Road in Los Alamos Canyon.

After the close of the public comment period and prior to issuing a Floodplain Statement of Findings DOE/NNSA will reevaluate the alternatives to the proposed action in a floodplain, identify mitigation measures that would avoid or minimize impacts to the floodplain and take into account all substantive comments received during the public comment period. The Floodplain Assessment can be accessed online at https://www.energy.gov/nepa/articles/los-alamos-national-laboratory-floodplain-assessment-west-road-post-and-cable-fencing