Monday, March 25, 2019
Sen. Tom Udall (D-NM) will not seek reelection
https://www.https://www.politico.com/story/2019/03/25/sen-tom-udall-wont-seek-reelection-in-2020-1235127
Wednesday, March 20, 2019
NNSA funding
NIF averts a major lay off in FY19, and LLNL overall FY20 budget if passed, largest in proportion to its FY19 budget
"We also assess that the cuts will significantly delay the pursuit of fusion ignition and yield on the NIF, and means we will not meet the NNSA goal set out for 2020. At LLNL, the proposed budget eliminates funding for nearly half of the scientists and engineers working on the ignition effort, representing a significant portion of the U.S. expertise in this area."
http://www.firefusionpower.org/HHRG-115-SY20-Wstate-HerrmannM-20180306.pdf
"The Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California would get the largest proportional budget increase in 2020, if the NNSA’s request became law. The agency seeks about $1.8 billion, which is more than 17.5 percent, or $280 roughly million, above the 2019 appropriation of $1.5 billion. Livermore is leading the W80-4 life-extension program to modernize the warhead slated to top the Pentagon’s new nuclear-tipped, air-launched cruise missile, the Long-Range Standoff weapon.
https://www.exchangemonitor.com/nnsa-breaks-2020-funding-request-lab-los-alamos-still-top/
"We also assess that the cuts will significantly delay the pursuit of fusion ignition and yield on the NIF, and means we will not meet the NNSA goal set out for 2020. At LLNL, the proposed budget eliminates funding for nearly half of the scientists and engineers working on the ignition effort, representing a significant portion of the U.S. expertise in this area."
http://www.firefusionpower.org/HHRG-115-SY20-Wstate-HerrmannM-20180306.pdf
"The Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California would get the largest proportional budget increase in 2020, if the NNSA’s request became law. The agency seeks about $1.8 billion, which is more than 17.5 percent, or $280 roughly million, above the 2019 appropriation of $1.5 billion. Livermore is leading the W80-4 life-extension program to modernize the warhead slated to top the Pentagon’s new nuclear-tipped, air-launched cruise missile, the Long-Range Standoff weapon.
https://www.exchangemonitor.com/nnsa-breaks-2020-funding-request-lab-los-alamos-still-top/
Thursday, March 14, 2019
Cookie Jars Within Cookie Jars?
"DOE Pushes Back on Suggestion That Local Feds Investigate Subcontractor Ownership Ties"
Local DOE officials should “independently review subcontractor ownership information as part of DOE consent reviews and assess potential conflicts of interest to ensure contractors are mitigating them,” GAO auditors said in a 76-page report published Tuesday...A notable example of subcontractors party to prime contracts in the NNSA enterprise is Bechtel National. The company is the lead partner on Consolidated Nuclear Security (CNS), operator of the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge, Tenn...At Y-12, the company is also building the Uranium Processing Facility under a subcontract to CNS.
https://www.exchangemonitor.com/doe-pushes-back-suggestion-local-feds-investigate-subcontractor-ownership-ties/
Wednesday, March 6, 2019
A few LANL rumors
A few LANL rumors at LANL. There is some talk that the future is in fact pits, where the idea is is that by 2025 it will become clear that
Savanah River cannot do pits and the whole thing goes to LANL. This will completely change the culture at the lab and transform it into a full manufacturing facility.
Another rumor is that there is a war between some of the managers which have very different visions of where the lab should be going under Triad. Again some people are saying that our future is more manufacturing and are pushing for new hires in this area.
Lots of hiring of people however the quality leaves something to be desired but LANL needs more and more people.
Savanah River cannot do pits and the whole thing goes to LANL. This will completely change the culture at the lab and transform it into a full manufacturing facility.
Another rumor is that there is a war between some of the managers which have very different visions of where the lab should be going under Triad. Again some people are saying that our future is more manufacturing and are pushing for new hires in this area.
Lots of hiring of people however the quality leaves something to be desired but LANL needs more and more people.
Tuesday, March 5, 2019
Some Hanford workers not owed full pensions
Some Hanford workers not owed full pensions; could decision impact thousands more?
"An appeals court has found that the Department of Energy has no obligation to provide full pension benefits to some Hanford nuclear reservation workers who filed a class action lawsuit...The lower court found that DOE was not obligated to offer Hanford workers continued full pension and retirement benefits after they were required to switch from one employer to another in a 1996 contracting change."
https://www.tri-cityherald.com/news/local/hanford/article224274035.html
"An appeals court has found that the Department of Energy has no obligation to provide full pension benefits to some Hanford nuclear reservation workers who filed a class action lawsuit...The lower court found that DOE was not obligated to offer Hanford workers continued full pension and retirement benefits after they were required to switch from one employer to another in a 1996 contracting change."
https://www.tri-cityherald.com/news/local/hanford/article224274035.html
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