Summary
The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), a semi-autonomous agency within the United States (U.S.) Department of Energy (DOE), is preparing a new Site-Wide Environmental Impact Statement (SWEIS) for the Continued Operation of Sandia National Laboratories, New Mexico. The purpose and need for continued operation of SNL/NM has not changed from those identified in the 1999 SNL/NM SWEIS and continues to include supporting NNSA and other DOE missions as directed by Congress and the President. Currently, facilities and capabilities that support many NNSA and other DOE mission priorities are found only at SNL/NM. NNSA needs to continue SNL/NM operations to meet its core mission requirements. A further purpose of the continued operation of SNL/NM is to provide capabilities available at the site in support of strategic partnership projects, under which SNL/NM oversees national security-related research, development, and testing programs, and conducts work for other entities, including other federal and state government agencies, industry, and academic institutions.
This EIS is being prepared to replace DOE/EIS-0466 which was started in 2011.