(TheConservativeNews.org) – Uncontrolled fires threaten the communities they surround in a number of ways; infrastructure is especially vulnerable to wildfires, particularly nuclear laboratories where dangerous compounds are stored. To mitigate risks and prevent potential shutdowns, nuclear facilities are supposed to engage in certain wildfire management practices.
However, one of these labs failed to meet these safety standards.
On Monday, February 1, the Department of Energy released an audit detailing shortcomings in the wildfire risk management approach of the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). The report found the New Mexico facility had failed to perform many of the recommended tasks, including maintenance of fire roads, tree thinning, and planning and preparedness drills.
The Los Alamos plant employs 12,000 people in a complex that holds 13 nuclear facilities and covers 36 square miles. The lab’s activities focus on the development of nuclear weapons.
Previous fires in the vicinity of this complex have resulted in temporary shutdowns and losses of millions of dollars. Officials need to address these issues to ensure this isn’t allowed to happen again.
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