Los Alamos County · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Los Alamos County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Los Alamos Medical Center services and recruitment
The hospital's maternity ward closes June 30, 2026, forcing expectant mothers into hour-plus drives to Santa Fe or Española. Speakers told the council the county has options to pressure LifePoint Health or support a competitor, and warned of safety risks and workforce impacts for LANL recruiting.
Hexavalent Chromium Groundwater Cleanup
County staff and San Ildefonso Pueblo leaders jointly urged congressional delegation support for continued chromium plume cleanup, DOE infrastructure funding for energy communities, and new well substitution; DOE's EM office signaled support for a replacement well — a first.
Hexavalent chromium groundwater plume
A state Environment Department update reported the chromium plume is not contained within LANL property, state and LANL disagree on whether injections should continue, and the pump-and-treat system needs improvements and is at a standstill.
2026 Electric Coordination Agreement with DOE
The new 10+10-year, $424 million contract governing how the county and the lab share and pay for electric power hit a snag: a termination clause capping DOE's liability at $6 million. The Board asked for a one-month extension to fix it before recommending approval.