In the high desert of New Mexico, where the first atomic fireball once lit the sky, scientists are now waging a different kind of campaign—using cutting-edge technology to heal the land.
The name Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) has been synonymous with nuclear science since its inception during the Manhattan Project in 19435 . For decades, its primary mission was weapons development, but the end of the Cold War prompted a significant shift. Today, a crucial part of LANL's work addresses a different national security challenge: environmental stewardship.
This article explores how a birthplace of atomic energy is now pioneering environmental technologies to remediate its own legacy and protect our planet's future.
Decades of nuclear research created environmental challenges that require innovative solutions.
LANL now focuses on developing technologies to remediate contamination and protect ecosystems.
Los Alamos National Laboratory's environmental work is carried out under the umbrella of the Earth and Environmental Sciences (EES) Division, which serves as the intellectual home for geosciences, atmospheric studies, hydrology, and ecology at the laboratory1 . For over 50 years, EES has worked to understand the causes, stressors, and solutions to domestic and international environmental threats1 .
Investigating emerging threats and environmental changes
Understanding and mitigating groundwater contamination
Assessing impacts on local ecosystems and biodiversity
The laboratory's strategic approach involves investigating Earth system impacts and emerging threats, leveraging field, experimental, and theoretical expertise to solve complex problems in national security1 . This mission has expanded to include a strong focus on developing and deploying advanced environmental technologies for site remediation and waste management.
One of the most pressing environmental challenges at Los Alamos is the management of legacy waste from decades of nuclear research. A key demonstration project currently underway showcases the laboratory's innovative approach to this problem.
Transuranic waste—containing radioactive elements heavier than uranium on the periodic table, such as plutonium and americium—must be carefully characterized before disposal. This waste emits alpha particle radiation greater than 100 nanocuries per gram. Historically, methods for identifying and quantifying waste in containers have lacked sensitivity, leading to conservative estimates of container contents that may not reflect their actual hazard level.
To address this challenge, the Department of Energy's Office of Environmental Management is demonstrating a new technology at LANL called the Universal Drum Assay and Segregation System (UDASS). Developed by ANTECH and implemented by Nuvision Engineering (NVE), this system represents a significant advancement in waste characterization technology.
| Aspect | Description |
|---|---|
| Lead Organization | DOE Office of Environmental Management Los Alamos Field Office (EM-LA) |
| Cleanup Contractor | Newport News Nuclear BWXT Los Alamos (N3B) |
| Technology Developer | ANTECH |
| System Implementer | Nuvision Engineering (NVE) |
| Project Timeline | Site preparation since 2022; demonstration running in 2024 |
The UDASS technology represents a sophisticated approach to waste characterization:
Unlike previous systems, UDASS employs multiple measurement technologies simultaneously to analyze waste drum contents.
Sophisticated analytical software processes the data from these multiple sensors, creating a more comprehensive and sensitive analysis of the waste contents.
The system better differentiates between transuranic waste (which must be shipped to the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant) and low-level waste (which may be disposed of elsewhere).
The current demonstration involves analyzing a test set of 400 legacy waste drums with known radiation levels ranging from 80 to 400 nanocuries per gram. This allows for direct comparison between UDASS results and known values.
The UDASS demonstration, scheduled for completion in summer 2024, has the potential to revolutionize waste management practices at LANL and across the Department of Energy complex. Preliminary findings suggest:
| Characteristic | Traditional Systems | UDASS Technology |
|---|---|---|
| Analytical Sensitivity | Less sensitive, conservative estimates | More sensitive, accurate analysis |
| Measurement Approach | Single-technology focus | Multiple complementary technologies |
| Uncertainty Level | Higher | Significantly reduced |
| Waste Differentiation | Limited capability | Enhanced TRU/LLW differentiation |
| Disposal Efficiency | Lower space optimization | Better use of WIPP capacity |
The work at Los Alamos employs a sophisticated array of scientific instruments and methodologies. Beyond UDASS, researchers utilize various advanced technologies to address environmental challenges.
| Technology | Function | Application Example |
|---|---|---|
| Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) | Elemental analysis using laser-generated plasma | Characterizing uranium metals and compounds2 |
| Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) | Highly sensitive trace element and isotopic analysis | Determining isotopic composition and sample homogeneity2 |
| Solution ICP-MS | Precise measurement of metal concentrations at trace levels | Analyzing uranium oxide, hydride, and nitride for purity2 |
| Proton Radiography (pRad) | Imaging dense objects using high-energy protons | Non-destructive examination of sealed containers4 |
| Advanced Surface Science | Studying chemical and physical properties of material surfaces | Understanding contaminant interactions with environmental media |
Techniques like LIBS and ICP-MS provide precise elemental analysis crucial for characterizing contaminants and understanding their behavior in the environment.
Methods like proton radiography allow researchers to examine sealed containers without opening them, reducing exposure risks and preserving sample integrity.
While waste characterization represents a critical component of LANL's environmental work, the laboratory's research portfolio extends much further. The EES Division investigates a wide array of environmental challenges, including:
Investigating emerging threats to advance national security missions1
Understanding and mitigating groundwater contamination through advanced modeling and monitoring
Assessing the impact of historical operations on local ecosystems and developing restoration strategies
This research takes place not only in laboratory settings but also in field deployments worldwide, utilizing cutting-edge facilities and mobile labs to advance innovative research across multiple specialties1 .
The environmental technologies research and deployments at Los Alamos National Laboratory represent a remarkable transformation—from a facility dedicated solely to weapons development to a multidisciplinary institution addressing some of our most pressing environmental challenges. Projects like the UDASS demonstration illustrate how sophisticated scientific approaches can be applied to legacy problems, creating solutions that are both more effective and more efficient.
LANL is applying advanced technologies to remediate contamination from decades of nuclear research, turning historical liabilities into opportunities for innovation.
The laboratory's environmental work extends beyond cleanup to developing technologies and approaches that will safeguard ecosystems and communities for years to come.