Domenici Commends Los Alamos Development, Urges Continued Progress to Diversify Region's Economy

Press Release

Domenici Commends Los Alamos Development, Urges Continued Progress to Diversify Region's Economy

from the Office of Senator Pete V. Domenici

While participating in Los Alamos County's "Domenici Day" activities, U.S. Senator Pete Domenici said he is encouraged at the community's progress in developing its resources to diversify its economy.

During the day's events hosted by the county, Domenici participated in a ceremony dedicating White Rock Fire Station 3 in his honor before viewing progress at the Airport Basin development site and overseeing a land transfer ceremony at the Los Alamos Airport. The day's events capped with Domenici's visit with Los Alamos community leaders and residents at the Fuller Lodge.

"Residents of Los Alamos can be proud at the progress their community is making to diversify its economy and build a sustainable community. Over the years, I have worked to ensure that Los Alamos has a source of longevity on top of the benefits afforded by hosting a national laboratory. I commend the progress made and challenge this remarkable county to continue to take initiative in developing the area's economic potential," said Domenici.

Domenici praised progress at the Entrada site, an 18-acre development he helped break ground on in 2006. The site currently has plans to accommodate a hotel as well as additional organizations. The city is also in the process of removing dated buildings and facilities to make way for a proposed 42-acre development at the Trinity site.

"While LANL remains the lifeblood of this region, important progress has been made to transfer land back into the hands of the community. This work has benefitted everything from local schools to the area's business prospects. In these uncertain times where funding for the labs exists from one year to the next, I believe it is all the more important for Los Alamos to build up its own economic resources," said Domenici, who has served as chairman and ranking member of the Senate subcommittee that funds the national laboratory system.

Over the past several years, Domenici has overseen the transfer of over 300 acres to the Los Alamos community, including 30 acres for area schools.

At the Los Alamos Airport, Domenici participated in a ceremony recognizing the transfer of 89 acres of Department of Energy (DOE) property to Los Alamos County for airport improvements, including a new terminal building, hangar construction, runway extension and taxiway rehabilitation.

Authorization for the transfers was originally provided in the FY1997 Defense Authorization bill, and was extended for another five years in 2007. In 2005, he also successfully appropriated $10 million, as then-chairman of the Senate Energy and Water Appropriations Committee, to settle outstanding claims from Hispanic homesteaders who were misplaced when LANL was created.

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