$14 Million for Fusion Energy Sciences Research

Department of Energy Announces $14 Million for Fusion Energy Sciences Research

"A major goal of the research is to develop methods of sustaining steady-state or continuous operation of fusion reactors, an essential step toward eventually making nuclear fusion a practical energy source...The research focuses on high-priority challenges in “magnetic confinement” of plasma (a hot mixture of ions and free electrons) on the pathway toward eventual development of a contained, self-sustaining fusion reaction.  The research will be performed on the DIII-D tokamak, the largest magnetically confined plasma facility in the United States."

https://www.energy.gov/articles/department-energy-announces-14-million-fusion-energy-sciences-research 

Democratic debates

Just watched the second debate. Warren says we should have policy that the US will never use a nuclear weapon first. Some other guy I think it is Gov Bullock says he would not agree with that. Sanders wanted to say something but there was no time. Free college though. Maybe they will ask the same question to on Thur.

Nuclear proliferation

Let me understand this: Saudis violate human rights openly. Their foreign workers are slaves. They still consider Christian and Jews as their enemy.
They destroyed Yemen etccc
Now, they get nuclear weaponry?
Is that against the non-proliferation policy?
The Trump administration is dangerous to our security and world peace.
Perry is definitely incompetent!

https://www.politico.com/story/2019/07/29/rick-perry-saudi-nuclear-democrats-3662906

RISING STARS OF NUCLEAR SECURITY SINGLED OUT FOR EXCELLENCE

LLNL gets four, and so does Sandia, of these top awards in US for young scientists. LANL not doing as well in this area.

https://www.energy.gov/nnsa/articles/eleven-nnsa-employees-receive-presidential-early-career-award-scientists-and-engineers

US suspends low-level radioactive waste shipments from Oak Ridge to Nevada

The department had announced earlier that shipments of the waste from Tennessee to Nevada have been suspended while it investigates whether the materials were “potentially mischaracterized” as the wrong category of low-level waste. 


https://www.wate.com/news/us-suspends-low-level-radioactive-waste-shipments-from-oak-ridge-to-nevada/

Taxpayers won’t have to pay Hanford contractor’s costs in discrimination lawsuit

"The appeals court upheld an April 2018 decision of the U.S. Court of Federal Claims that the Department of Energy did not need to reimburse Bechtel National $500,000 for its legal defense costs in discrimination lawsuits filed by two employees. Both were fired. Bechtel argued that previously DOE had always reimbursed Bechtel for its costs to defend and settle lawsuits, including employment discrimination claims."

https://www.tri-cityherald.com/news/local/hanford/article232789237.html

Another Bechtel Whistleblower Settlement

Another Bechtel Whistleblower Settlement

"Hanford whistleblower who lost his job reaches settlement in lawsuit over safety concerns"

"Millwright Walter Ford filed a lawsuit in federal court against Bechtel National, the contractor building the $17 billion plant and Aecom, its primary subcontractor..The Department of Labor said in a ruling made in 2015 that Ford’s role as a whistleblower in his 35 years at the Hanford nuclear reservation contributed to a decision to lay him off in November 2011."

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.tri-cityherald.com/news/local/hanford/article230958223.html

Will Triad employee salaries be revealed?

As a Non-Profit LLC, will Triad employee salaries be revealed? 

"Nonprofits are required to submit their financial statements and other information -- including the salaries of directors, officers, and key employees...The IRS and nonprofits themselves are required to disclose the information on Form 990 to anyone who asks."

https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/question-are-nonprofits-finances-public-information-28028.html

Does Battelle need UC?

The Triad partnership. Does Battelle need UC?

LANL Salaries Severely Fallen Behind Market

I noticed that the salaries being disclosed for engineering and science positions have really fallen far behind the market the past several years. First, most "scientist" positions are advertised at the postdoc, 1 or 2 level and require very advanced skills and experience nevertheless. On the other hand, there are glorified system administrator jobs being filled at the 3/4 level. Scientist jobs at the 3/4 level ask for incredible credentials that would be VP or director level in the private sector, and pay 2x to 10x. They are literally looking for world-class talent for $119-200K. Seems ludicrous.

According to Paysa, LANL is ranked 245th in pay for similar companies and 13,718th in all companies.

I understand how they can get some obsessive nanoscience or chemistry postdoc to work there, but how many top engineers or scientists are going to take a 2x or more pay cut and put up with the clearance requirements just to work on the government's niche problems? Not many good ones I imagine.

How can they fill these positions that ask for world class expertise paying so far below market? Also, why isn't pay keeping up with market under the GOCO model?

Is weapons science leaving LANL?

Is weapons science leaving LANL and going to LLNL? Follow the money.

LLNS CONTRACT

Should LLNS be awarded another contract after September 30, 2023, or will the NNSA favor a Triad like contractor model?