State taskforce reports steady TRU shipments to WIPP; agencies urge stronger local hazmat funding and LEPC support

Officials from the Hazardous Waste Planning Bureau and the Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management briefed the interim committee on radioactive waste shipments, interagency training and hazardous‑materials preparedness.

Carrie Yaguaro, bureau chief, recapped the November radioactive‑waste consultation task force meeting and noted recent shipments from Los Alamos to the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP). She said New Mexico State Police escorted an intersite shipment to the New Mexico–Colorado line and that WIPP can accept an estimated four legacy certified shipments per week based on current certified inventories. Yaguaro emphasized that Idaho currently holds a large share of certified TRU waste, which explains disproportionate shipment counts from that site.

Tessa Snyder, hazardous materials coordinator at DHSEM, and Director Avi Rai summarized state hazmat training metrics and the State Emergency Response Commission's work supporting Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPCs). They reported roughly 21,000 Tier 2‑reporting facilities in New Mexico and uneven LEPC coverage across counties; to improve preparedness the state supports regional LEPCs for small counties and distributes Emergency Response Guidebooks and training through federal HMEP subgrants.

DHSEM asked the legislature to consider raising the Tier 2 fee cap (currently $250 maximum per facility) so more resources can be directed to subgrants for local jurisdictions and training. Committee members asked about communications, incident command training and how statewide coordination works during responses; DHSEM representatives described 24/7 hotlines, coordination with emergency managers, and a mix of bottom‑up and state‑driven training requests.

Committee members also received an update from Los Alamos National Laboratory on mission work, legacy waste handling and workforce investments; lab representatives reported progress venting tritium containers and continuing community partnership investments and internships across New Mexico institutions.