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Budget Deal Whacks LANL Nuke Lab
Updated: Friday, 16 Dec 2011, 3:43 PM MST
Published : Friday, 16 Dec 2011, 3:43 PM MST
ALBUQUERQUE (AP) - The compromise budget bill approved by the U.S. House Friday slashes funding for and prohibits any site preparation work on a controversial new $6 billion nuclear facility at Los Alamos National Laboratory.
The spending bill appropriates $200 million for the project this fiscal year, $100 million less than the administration had requested. It also notes that "no construction activities are funded for the project this year," and calls for a new report on the country's capability for manufacturing so-called pits, or the cores that power nuclear weapons.
Watchdogs hailed the budget action as a sign Congress was backing it's calls for the National Nuclear Security Administration to slow down on plans to build the facility.
Budget Deal Whacks LANL Nuke Lab
Updated: Friday, 16 Dec 2011, 3:43 PM MST
Published : Friday, 16 Dec 2011, 3:43 PM MST
ALBUQUERQUE (AP) - The compromise budget bill approved by the U.S. House Friday slashes funding for and prohibits any site preparation work on a controversial new $6 billion nuclear facility at Los Alamos National Laboratory.
The spending bill appropriates $200 million for the project this fiscal year, $100 million less than the administration had requested. It also notes that "no construction activities are funded for the project this year," and calls for a new report on the country's capability for manufacturing so-called pits, or the cores that power nuclear weapons.
Watchdogs hailed the budget action as a sign Congress was backing it's calls for the National Nuclear Security Administration to slow down on plans to build the facility.
Comments
Nah, on second thought, just make up for the huge loss in construction related funding by firing more staff scientists and raising overhead taxes on the remaining scientific projects at LANL.
We must do everything we can to keep these highly compensated Bechtel Boys on the lab payroll. They're an irreplaceable asset according to LANS top management.
Pretty good size.
Pretty good size.
December 17, 2011 9:01 PM
Yeah but NIF is doing great science and getting us to the holy grail of fusion "ignition". All the folks working on CMRR and the Pit Factory are counting beans, polishing pins, filling out forms, handcarrying paperwork, and wearing shoes that grip. Pays the same I guess.
Anyone?
Time to start the cuts, but begin with this new "Capital Projects" Directorate and the Bechtel PAD who was recently hired at great expense to manage it.
December 18, 2011 10:31 AM
You don't get it!
Santa (AKA Riley) is now making his list of congressmen whose campaign socks he'll fill to ensure continued taxpayer rip offs like LANS/LLNS.
Not to mention the other sites these opportunist and exploiters have their greedy hands in.
December 18, 2011 10:31 AM
The new Directorate was simply formed to have LANL workers report directly a Becthel Executive. In other words, Bechtel needed to "accomodate" this guy for whatever reason. It was an non-competed job that Anastasio was handsomely rewarded for announcing it just before he left. Incidentally, why are Bechtel employees not required to compete for jobs at LANS/LLNS?
While it may be that the PAD for construction was not needed at LANL, it is hard to argue that the person put in the position is unqualified. His resume looks like he is a serious construction project manager.
If you want to pick on PAD selections that were not competed and filled by someone that has no known qualifications for their position except a family name then look elsewhere in the organization.
December 18, 2011 7:44 PM
Uh, because competing jobs is not required anywhere in the private sector? (You did realize LANS is a private sector employer, didn't you? Or did you somehow think you still worked for UC?)
If there is no "business case" to be made for him, as the recent CFO management memo warned about several months ago, then he should be put on the LANL watch-list for future layoff.
What's good for the goose is good for the gander, right?
December 19, 2011 1:13 PM
Not if the gander is one of Riley's boyos! Don't confuse them with the scientists and engineers whose collective goose is cooked!
December 19, 2011 7:39 PM
You got that right. Most of the LANL workforce is totally clueless about the stuff that's about to "go down". The shocks on their face will begin to emerge once they return from holiday closure and find out exactly what plans LANS has in mind for them. Not gonna be pretty. Budgets are looking dreadful and some heavy cuts are going to be necessary.
December 20, 2011 9:56 PM
I can recall CMRR in a struggle for funding all the way back to 1997 and before. It just seems to be "a can being kicked down the street" by Administration after Administration. It's an embarrassment to the Lab and our Nation.
December 20, 2011 9:56 PM
The Lab cannot baseline the price tag.
December 20, 2011 3:33 PM
In our monthly safety meeting in WDP we had 8 Senior Waste Management Managers "lecture" like children on the 9 accidents they have had during the last month. It was interesting to note that Michael Graham was missing; no comment now on the major shortfall. He always attends to give us the budget update. How many Waste Managers does it take to screw in a lightbulb? None.
December 22, 2011 6:21 AM
Apparently it takes 8 making 200 G's plus a year.
December 22, 2011 6:21 AM
Apparently it takes 8 making 200 G's plus a year.
December 22, 2011 6:24 AM
Believe me, you wouldn't any of these managers screwing in a light bulb at LANS/LLNS, they would end up hurting themselves or someone else.
Oct. - no incentive to leave (Riff)