I just received my annual TCP-1 letter from LLNS and a summary of the LLNS Pension Plan. Looked in pretty good shape in 2013. About 35% overfunded (funding target attainment percentage = 134.92%). This was a decrease from 2012 where it was 51% overfunded (funding target attainment percentage = 151.59%). They did note that the 2012 change in the law on how liabilities are calculated using interest rates improved the plan's position. Without the change the funding target attainment percentages would have been 118% (2012) and 105% (2013). 2013 assets = $2,057,866,902 2013 liabilities = $1,525,162,784 vs 2012 assets = $1,844,924,947 2012 liabilities = $1,217,043,150 It was also noted that a slightly different calculation method ("fair market value") designed to show a clearer picture of the plan' status as December 31, 2013 had; Assets = $2,403,098,433 Liabilities = $2,068,984,256 Funding ratio = 116.15% Its a closed plan with 3,781 participants. Of that number, 3,151 wer...
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Similarly NIF has a fairly large logistics tail.
When you talk about shutting down the other parts of LLNL you basically are shutting down all of it.
So I would guess LLNL with NIF/Computations as the exclusive missions would be in the total staff range of 2,000 to 3,000.
Now we're talking. 2,000 - 3,000 people. That's 1,000 people under the original plan displayed on a viewgraphs I saw early during the transition period. So guess where we're going people?
give that the SNM is going away, Superblock and Site 300 are being closed, and RRW is dead... what's the rationale for LLNL remaining a classified site... NIF will end up doing as many classified shots as Nova did, and it was not a classified facility...
I see both NIF and the Supercomputers becoming user facilities with visiting researchers using them. This the model across most of the DOE Office of Science sites...
If that's all DOE has for LLNL to do it might as well tear down the place or turn it into a theme park.
Hey folks. Come visit Nukeland Park! Ride the monster NIF-Coaster, see the daily glow-in-the-dark show, kids of all ages will adore our egg-head petting zoo.
At least we'd have some decent work during the build.
Don't worry. Your classified stonghold will be gone very soon, to LANL. Remeber, no need for duplication in the DOE complex and I for one hope this is very true. It's time to get this crap out of Livermore
Not sure how many would be left, but that vision sounds about right. They only real question is whether it will happen over the next two years or over the next decade. My guess is that it will happen a lot faster than most people at LLNL expect.
I doubt you will find many scientists at LLNL or LANL who believe their kids should study the hard subjects in school and follow in their footsteps. It's not worth the effort any longer. Job security and attractive pay and benefits are quickly disappearing at our National Labs.
How ironic that Congress, which supposedly cares so very much about science and math education, is letting the National Labs (our "crown jewels" of science) slowly fall apart.
Lessons learned. We won't be fooled again.
Had a guy in another group at LANL who just finished his PhD in engineering over the summer. He bailed and started medical school this fall. Story is, he looked around and didn't see much to recommend being an engineer.
I think I've been kicked in my "Crown Jewels"