Fire on the Mountain
New Mexico
Fire on the Mountain’s campaign goal: move the radioactive waste at LANL to safer storage at WIPP before the next wildfire threatens it and us. Persuade the governor to use New Mexico’s legal tools to force DOE to move it as promised.
*This image is an artist's conception of a wildfire near the actual waste storage tents at LANL.
Get Involved
Make just a couple of phone calls.
1.
Call the GOVERNOR (505-476-2200)
& Sec. Kenney of NMED (505-470-6161 or 505-618-0408)
Message: "We are at great risk from legacy waste stored in fabric tents at LANL in a wildfire zone. Permits give the Governor, as New Mexico's head of state, the legal tools to act on our behalf to pressure the Dept. of Energy into moving this waste to WIPP, where it will be safer underground. Don't let a fire reach this waste on your watch."
If staff tell you to contact your senator, rep, or D.O.E., please respond that you want your message delivered to the Governor, as she is the most appropriate leader to enforce the permit.
2.
Call or email the CANDIDATES for Governor
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Secretary Haaland felicia@debhaaland.com or info@debhaaland.com.
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AG Bregman 505-860-1409 info@bregmanfornm.com.
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Others as they join.
Message: "The nuclear waste in fabric tents at Los Alamos National Labs sits in a wildfire zone and puts us at great risk. As Governor, you will be New Mexico's head of state and will have the responsibility to enforce the permit that requires the Dept. of Energy to move it to WIPP, where it will be safer underground. Do you commit to require that D.O.E. abide by the permit it signed with New Mexico? Will you apply sanctions if D.O.E. fails to move the waste in a reasonable timeframe? Can we count on you to protect us and get it moved before the next wildfire?"
This message has two uses:
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Email it to every candidate for governor, no matter the political party.
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Go to campaign events for the candidate and give it as a public comment. This tells candidates (who probably don’t know about it) that the public does know and cares deeply about the risk. Stating it aloud at an event makes it a public request that holds more weight than an email. More than one person at an event can give this comment.
Bumper Stickers
Place a bumper sticker on your car.
The stickers cost us $2 so we gladly accept any donation you think is fair. Donations are all recycled into more bumper stickers.
One Fire Away
D.O.E.zo the Clown
We’re starting with bumper stickers and need to saturate the community with them. People will ask, “Who’s D.O.E.zo the Clown?” “What fire on what mountain?” and you’ll take a moment to inform them about the danger and to visit our website.
Attend Community Forums
“Thank you” to everyone who participated in the WIPP Community Forum on April 30 .
DOE is famous for not sharing what it’s planning. NGOs fought for community forums so people would have a way to confront DOE publicly and we ask you to use them. They are your tools for knowing what DOE has planned for you. The next community forum will be on July 30 .
Join Our Action Team
If you would like to receive information about community forums and other events, please sign up for our action list.
Non-Governmental Organizations
Here is a list of our active Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs). They have been working on these issues for decades, and their expertise is what makes our work accurate. Please feel free to contact them on your own. They exist for all of us. They read the Federal Register, so we don’t have to! They share it with us. We just have to pay attention.
When you’re considering charitable contributions, think of them.
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Southwest Research and Information Center
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Nuclear Watch New Mexico
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Conservation Voters New Mexico
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Veterans for Peace
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Concerned Citizens for Nuclear Safety
These NGOs—and smaller community organizations such as 285 Alliance, C.A.R.D., and some individuals—are committed to stopping...
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Tritium Releases
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Plutonium Pit Production
and
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WIPP Expansion
They are also committed to making LANL/DOE Projects safer.
Mini Info Lesson You Can Tell Those Who Ask:
Our community is in danger because nuclear waste sits, unprotected on the mountain at LANL, in canvas tents in a wildfire zone. They’ve almost been reached by fires and would blanket northern NM if they are. The inept Department of Energy (D.O.E.zo the Clown) needs to move the waste to a safer, underground repository and the governor can make this happen, but she needs to hear from us.