Protect Water Quality

N3B monitors groundwater for contamination and controls the migration of contaminated storm water linked to historical Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) operations. N3B is also treating a groundwater plume that contains elevated levels of hexavalent chromium and investigating a plume of Royal Demolition Explosives (RDX). Both plumes are in the regional aquifer beneath LANL.

Surface and Storm Water

Monitor surface water and storm water runoff for contaminants linked to historical LANL operations while minimizing migration of potentially contaminated water through engineered controls.

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Chromium

Control migration of the hexavalent chromium plume and reduce the plume footprint, while identifying a final remedy.

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Royal Demolition Explosive

Ensure RDX groundwater contamination from past LANL operations does not threaten human and environmental health.

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Copper Water Quality Criteria

Obtain New Mexico Water Quality Control Commission approval for determining copper water quality criteria utilizing U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 2007 biotic ligand model.

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Groundwater

Monitor groundwater to ensure water leaving LANL does not pose an unacceptable impact to human or ecological health.

Resource Library

Copper Fact Sheet

Chromium Plume Fact Sheet

RDX Fact Sheet

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Latest News

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Los Alamos Tour Informs Senate Committee Staff About Legacy Cleanup

September 9, 2025 - Staff from the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and New Mexico staffers with Sen. Martin Heinrich’s office toured...

Los Alamos Completes 200th Transuranic Waste Shipment to WIPP

August 19, 2025 - The 200th transuranic shipment from Technical Area 54, Area G, at Los Alamos National Laboratory heads to the Waste Isolation...

N3B Commences Shipment of Corrugated Metal Pipe Waste Stream from LANL to WIPP

June 11, 2025 - N3B has begun off-site shipments of transuranic (TRU) waste from previously buried corrugated metal pipes (CMPs) for permanent disposal. This...