DOE-NNSA Los Alamos Field Office Manager Ted Wyka, pictured here at prior Council update. Photo by Maire O’Neill/losalamosreporter.com
BY MAIRE O’NEILL
maire@losalamosreporter.com
Department of Energy and NNSA Los Alamos Field Office Manager Ted Wyka on Tuesday evening updated Los Alamos County Council on activities at the site for the sixth time since his return to LANL in 2021. He noted that his quarterly reports to Council are very important for him to hear Council’s feedback and find areas of mutual interest.
He said as Triad, LLC operates and manages the Laboratory to safeguard the nation’s interests and ensure national security on behalf of the U.S., the core function of his office is to facilitate the work, effective management and stewardship. Wyka is also the Risk Acceptance Officer for all major work at LANL.
Wyka announced that last week, a year-long continuing resolution was passed by Congress and signed into law by the President.
“This closed the books on the Fiscal Year 2025 budget for the Laboratory and gives certainty to deliverables through September. After a quick review of the legislation, I did not see any significant issues in the Lab’s funding allocations and there were no major reductions to the key programs, so I believe they will be on solid fiscal ground for this year,” he said.
With regard to pit production, Wyka said NNSA aims to manufacture a minimum of 80 war reserve plutonium pits per year at Savannah River as well as Los Alamos as close to 2030 as possible to meet the national security requirements, with the goal of a minimum of 30 pits a year at LANL by 2028.
“NNSA just awarded Triad with a 91 percent performance score for a variety of performance improvements in the delivery of their first war reserve production unit. That was really big accomplishment,” he said.
While addressing hiring at LANL, Wyka said the Lab’s primary focus is switching away from growth, moving towards mission execution and developing a pathway for workforce integration.
“For 2025, the Lab is projecting to hire over 1,000 people. That number would replace the average attrition number, which is about 900 a year and 100 additional employees,” he said. At the federal level we are in a hiring freeze as you know. We lost nine people to the deferred resignation program.”
Wyka stressed that the Los Alamos Field Office staff is carrying out their important oversight responsibilities and now have to re-look at lower priorities.
“The Field Office team is committed to the mission and willing to do what it takes to succeed. I’m proud of their resiliency,” he said.
Wyka told Council that in terms of operational safety, LANL continues to exert continual effort into their safety and compliance activities.
“They recently passed their annual New Mexico Environment Department RCRA inspection with no violations, which is pretty incredible for an operation their size. In addition, the success they have had with establishing pit production could not have been achieved without steadily improving operational safety,” he said. “My office recognizes continuous safety improvement as a goal across the site and we’re all working hard to make sure the Laboratory does not lose focus on that goal.”
Driving Safety
With regard to driving safety concerns that have plagued the LANL commuting area, Wyka said even though the Lab has no law enforcement powers to enforce local traffic laws, they have done a lot to contribute.
“I’m pleased to see that speeding occurrences with fleet vehicles are dropping significantly. In addition, the mobile speed cameras are also doing their jobs in bring down speeding on site. I’m also very pleased with the cooperation with local law enforcement and I personally have noted an increase in their presence as I drive around,” he said.
Electric Coordination Agreement
The DOE/Los Alamos County Electric Coordination Agreement will expire in June. Wyka said NNSA worked with the County’s Department of Public Utilities to develop a statement of work for a new contract in “an example of great partnership”. The procurement package was submitted to NNSA procurement in Albuquerque for their review. Meanwhile, he said a six-month extension is in place to ensure sufficient review and to obtain the necessary approvals.
Rendija Canyon Land Transfer
With regard to the Rendija Canyon Land Transfer, Wyka said NNSA continues to work with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to develop an interagency agreement to estimate the cost of the additional clearance of unexploded ordnance in the canyon. He said the cost estimate will include a survey to a depth of four inches in the area where utilities are buried in an area of about 28 acres in the end of the canyon.
“This is associated with the proposed recreational vehicle park as well as the utility and roads right-of-way. NNSA is in the process of scoping the work for the interagency with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,” Wyka said.
Site-Wide Environmental Impact Statement (SWEIS)
Wyka noted that NNSA is preparing a SWEIS to assess the impacts of future operations across the Lab.
“As with prior environmental impact statement updates, the purpose of this new SWEIS is to analyze the environmental impacts of potential new or expanded future operational activities and programs that have not been previously analyzed with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process,” he said.
This SWEIS was published January 10, 2025 and public hearings were held virtually and in-person in Los Alamos, Santa Fe and Espanola approximately 30-35 days after publication on February 11, 12 and 13, Wyka said. At the request of stakeholders, an extension of the comment period to April 20, 2025 was granted. Technical briefings have been offered to Pueblos and Tribes and a briefing was given to the Accord Pueblos and the Pueblo of Santa Fe, he said.
“If the County is interested in a technical briefing, we will gladly offer it as well,” he said.
Electrical Power Capacity Upgrade Project (EPCU)
“LANL requires a reliable, resilient electrical supply for mission programs and other activities. By 2027, existing lines that serve the Lab as well as Los Alamos County will reach capacity causing operational constraints for our mission work. After 2027, our demands will consistently exceed the lines support limit and additional power will be necessary for supporting the Lab’s critical mission activities, including the supercomputers as well as the AI work and the LANSCE Accelerator. The EPCU will require a new powerline and internal distribution upgrades.
Tribal consultation was initiated last June along with the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management.
“We are currently working through the memorandum of agreement process required by the National Historic Preservation Act to address any adverse effects from this transmission line.
Waste Shipping
With regard to waste shipping, Wyka said NNSA remains conscious of widespread interest in transuranic waste removal.
“Reducing our waste inventory is a priority of the state as well as the Department of Energy and NNSA and will continue to be a high priority for my office as well. We are projecting a total of 37 shipments for this fiscal year and we are pleased with the Lab’s performance in transporting waste off the hill,” he said. “We are also maintaining a strong partnership with the DOE Environmental Management office to support cleanup and look forward to reaching our milestones for this coming year.”
Wildland Fire Preparation
Noting that the Lab is transitioning into spring and summer, Wyka said LANL is continuing to conduct fire mitigation activities to prevent wildland fire, which he said is a year round effort. Mitigation in Rendija Canyon has been completed. Thinning is also going on in the TA-72 outdoor fire range area as well as hazard tree mitigation in the Los Alamos Canyon – another utility corridor. Work is ongoing there. Also wood power pole structures are being painted with fire-retardant painting. All the roads have been inspected, Wyka said, and are ready for use.
“Annual maintenance and repair of troubled areas will be completed by mid-April. All wildland fire program equipment, including masticators, off the road water tankers and all hand equipment such as chainsaws, trimmers, etc. are ready for use,” he said.
Los Alamos Fire Department
Wyka said the Lab continues its interface with Los Alamos Fire Department, the U.S. Park Service and the U.S. Forest Service. The TA-49 Joint Operation Center is staffed and prepared with its fulltime staff, and the Type 3 P49 helicopter will be on site April 15. Communication and integration with LAFD is also ongoing, he said.
“The 2025 fiscal year wildland fire drill with LAFD and other agencies was completed on February 12 and the annual wildland fire seasonal interagency briefing is scheduled for April 23. The February 12 drill went really well,” Wyka said.
LAFD Cooperative Agreement
He said he LAFD Cooperative Agreement continues to protect Lab employees as well as the Los Alamos County.
“Our partnership continues to be very successful,” Wyka said that discussions with County staff on staffing needs and fire response at the Lab went very well. He noted that changes in the International Fire Association standards are underway by Triad. He said LAFD expects that it will take some six months to implement NFA 1580, which outlines minimum requirements for fire department infection control programs, occupational medical programs, and complete health-related fitness programs (HRFPs) for members of fire departments.