Jeff Bingaman United States Senator from New Mexico

WASHINGTON – The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee today approved a bill introduced by U.S. Senators Jeff Bingaman and Pete Domenici that would transfer about 130 acres of surplus Department of Energy (DOE) land to the Lovelace Foundation.

The foundation runs Lovelace Institute, a former Cold War-era DOE nuclear site that specialized in researching the health effects of radiation.  Lovelace has expanded beyond its Cold War mission and now performs important testing research for the Centers for Disease Control, the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Defense.

“Today’s action by the Energy Committee means that Lovelace is a step closer to acquiring this unused DOE land,” said Bingaman, Chairman of the Energy and Natural Resource Committee.

“This land transfer will benefit Lovelace and its important research.  I hope the Senate will move quickly to approve this legislation,” said Domenici, ranking member of the committee.     

Lovelace will assume responsibility for monitoring and maintaining the land, which has been environmentally remediated.  The move will save taxpayers millions of dollars. 

The bill also gives the Air Force possession of the “Coronado Club,” a DOE facility that Kirtland plans to turn into a conference center.

The bill is now ready to be considered by the full Senate.