The Program builds on the Laboratory's history of excellence in multidisciplinary problem solving through scientific and engineering innovation, progressive management, quality facilities, exceptional business practices, and effective demonstrations. The Nuclear Materials Technology Program supports DOE-EM by providing technical support to the Nuclear Materials Stewardship Initiative and the implementation of activities relating to the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board's recommendations regarding nuclear materials. Within this Program area, LANL is the Lead Laboratory for Plutonium. Primary Program areas include Green Chemistry and other pollution prevention science, natural resources management with a focus on water, nuclear waste science including repositories as well as hazardous and non-radioactive wastes. PPC integrates scope, schedule and cost of programs to ensure technical, operational, and regulatory objectives are met.
Efforts focus on the areas of site characterization and field-testing.
In the site characterization area, work focuses on modeling transport of radionuclides through the mountain, mineralogy and petrology, geochemistry, and volcanism. For the field testing, LANL scientists and engineers perform numerous testing activities such as simulating the flow of radionuclides through the unsaturated zone of the mountain. Rocky Flats - A team of scientists and engineers is stationed at Rocky Flats Environmental Technology Site near Denver, Colorado, to assist with closure of the former nuclear weapons production plant. The team supports closure activities including nuclear materials processing and handling, waste management and shipping, nondestructive assay and nondestructive examination, and decontamination and decommissioning. The E Division on-site Program Office in Carlsbad, in collaboration with the DOE Carlsbad Area Office, provides a strong combination of facilities and scientific and engineering expertise to address the priority issues of repository science and environmental nuclear materials accountability.