LOS ALAMOS, N.M. (AP) — Officials at Los Alamos National Laboratory say they're seeing positive results from efforts to contain and control a plume of chromium contamination located in two canyons at the northern New Mexico complex.
A system that extracts tainted groundwater and then re-injects treated water into the ground has been operating for the past year near the lab's boundary with San Ildefonso Pueblo.
Officials said Tuesday that sampling in May from a monitoring well near that boundary showed a drop in concentrations of hexavalent chromium to levels just above state standards.
Cheryl Rodriguez is with the U.S. Energy Department's Environmental Management Los Alamos Field Office. She says the interim measure is helping to reduce the plume's footprint.
Officials say the contamination has not affected any drinking water wells in the area.