Looks as if NMED didn't get Charlie's attention with the first $54M fine, so get ready for round two. If this goes on much longer, then something has to shake out. Maybe one of the LLC partners withdrawing from the operation or perhaps a complete changeover in the Lab leadership. Either way, it doesn't look stable to continue as is for much longer.
http://www.abqjournal.com/539546/abqnewsseeker/report-state-consider-fining-los-alamos-lab-another-100-million.html
14 comments:
From the looks of this, LANS is going to be hit by both NMED and DOE. After they each get what they want, there may not be much left over. Since it looks like both are going to come after LANS, the current discussions probably are just to decide how much each one gets once it is all closed.
LANS cannot be "hit" by NMED. LANS has no money that isn't operating funds that NMED has already forbidden them or DOE to use on the fine(s). Their earlier profits have all been distributed to the parent companies. The LANS parent companies are shielded by the LLC. DOE is on the hook, and it's only recourse against LANS is to cancel the contract.
NMED does not have the authority to tell DOE what funds to use to pay the fines. Basic principle of sovereign immunity.
"Their earlier profits have all been distributed to the parent companies."
There could be a case made for a little un-distributing of the profits, from the parents back to NMED, by way of the LLC.
NMED does not have the authority to tell DOE what funds to use to pay the fines. Basic principle of sovereign immunity.
February 10, 2015 at 4:01 PM
If you think that will be DOE's response, you don't understand what a large, heavy hammer NMED has over DOE's head. Cancellation of DOE's air, water, and waste operating permits, among other catastrophic sanctions.
I find it ironical that LANS "badmouths" DOE/NNSA about oversight, red tape, etc. However, now they got themselves in trouble, DOE/NNSA is serving them "cover". Maybe they ought to keep their arrogant mouths shut since DOE/NNSA feeds their whining crybaby mouths. Who's your daddy LANS? Say it, "DOE/NNSA"!
"Cancellation of DOE's air, water, and waste operating permits, among other catastrophic sanctions." -- 5:03 pm
If it gets to that point, plan on NNSA "rolling up" LANL and moving all the expertise elsewhere.
The State of New Mexico has done very well with the many highly paid jobs from LANL. Does Gov. Martinez really want to be the governor in charge who pushes this lab and it's money out of her state? It's time for all parties in this mess to turn down the heated words and sober up... fast.
February 10, 2015 at 9:35 PM
You obviously have no idea of the infrastructure value of LANL. DOE could in no way get enough money from Congress to move the programs, let alone the people who carry them out, anywhere else. The idea that LANL programs could be moved out of NM at the whim of some DOE/NNSA bureaucrat is laughable. Politically, the environmentalist lobby will always win, so the state of NM will also.
Most of the nuclear weapons expertise at LANL could be moved to LLNL. Many of the future facilities (like DARHT II) are already being planned for the Nevada test site, not Los Alamos. Much of the LANL explosives work has already been moved out to Nevada.
It might take a decade to fully make the move but the pain from even the start of the process would be felt very quickly in New Mexico.
It would start by having intellectual capital (i.e., the weapon scientists) being told they are moving out to LLNL if they want to keep their jobs. And I doubt very much that McMillan would mind going down this path. It's not as laughable as you may think, 9:59 PM. It would take some time but it could be done.
In the end, Los Alamos begins to look more and more like "Rocky Flats II". No one thought that Rocky Flats in Colorado would be shut down yet after the FBI's environmental raid it was slowly put on the path to being closed down.
The DOE/NNSA are realizing the goal of streamlined, cost effective, and perfectly operated Limited Liability Companies (LLCs) (LANS/LLNS) that THEY formed. Picking up a $142M dinner tab by the LANS Management Team.
$142M is a drop in the bucket for Norm Pattiz.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norman_Pattiz
Let's see how long "Stormin" Norman sticks around now that LANS starts racking up liabilities. I predict he'll be the first "domino" to fall here pretty soon.
Let's see how long "Stormin" Norman sticks around now that LANS starts racking up liabilities. I predict he'll be the first "domino" to fall here pretty soon.
February 11, 2015 at 2:58 PM
It looks likes the California "boys" that Pattiz "planted" in New Mexico have become an absolute failure. By the way, has Norm Pattiz ever "set foot" in New Mexico; has he ever left Beverly Hills? Norm would never set foot in New Mexico, he doesn't want to get any dust on his Armani suits, let alone any snow on has Martin Dingman Crocodile Arlo shoes.
I love the "quote" guy!
No one else does.
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