By Raam Wong
The Albuquerque Journal Northern Bureau
SANTA FE, NM — A new report raises questions about the ability of local firefighters to properly put out a fire if one ever broke out in one of Los Alamos' nuclear facilities.
The report comes three months after the federal government signed a new agreement in which Los Alamos County's fire department will continue protecting the nuclear weapons lab, a sprawling site that covers 40 square miles.
A cover letter attached to the December report states "there are weaknesses in the current capability to respond to a fire or other emergency event in the unique hazard environments associated with nuclear facilities at (Los Alamos National Laboratory)."
The report by federal safety officials also raises concerns about staffing at the lab as well as a lack of progress in addressing previously identified weaknesses in fire protection.
Recent drills suggest "significant weaknesses" in the capability of firefighters to respond to emergencies in nuclear facilities, according to the report. During one drill, the route used by emergency personnel in responding to a fire at the Plutonium Facility would have spread the contamination, the report states. Personnel also failed to establish "clean and contaminated zone perimeters."
The letter attached to the report asks the NNSA to respond within 90 days with information detailing immediate measures taken to improve fire and emergency response capabilities, a copy of the new baseline needs assessment, and a strategy and schedule for achieving the emergency response capability.
Copyright 2009 Albuquerque Journal
