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...
Comments
"Whistleblowers and Hanford Nuclear Site, Managers Panel"
"Energy Department officials and executives from URS Corporation and Bechtel National testified at a hearing assessing the safety concerns"
http://www.c-span.org/video/?318226-2/hanford-nuclear-site-safety-hearing
".. DOE Office of Inspector General Rewards Contractors for Non-Cooperation on Donna Busche’s Whistleblower Termination, Abdicates their Charter
Secretary of Energy On the Spot to Hold Contractors Accountable, Senator McCaskill Sends Letter, Requests DOE Briefing..."
"...According to the Inspector General, Bechtel and URS, the contractors involved in the matter, have refused to provide more than 4,500 documents to the Inspector General, claiming attorney-client privilege. I understand that the contractors have refused to provide these documents despite a clause in both the prime contract and subcontract which expressly consents to the provision of attorney-client privileged material to the Inspector General. I request that the Department provide a briefing to the Subcommittee about DOE's plans to address the contractors' lack of cooperation with the Inspector General's request. The briefing should also include the mechanisms that are available to the Department to hold the contractors accountable for their noncompliance, including withholding of fees and recovery of costs incurred by the Office of Inspector General. I request that this briefing be provided as soon as possible, but no later than October 31, 2014..."
http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2014/10/21/doe-office-inspector-general-rewards-contractors-non-cooperation-donna-busches
"...In a telephone interview, Busche said she is satisfied that the inspector general tried “diligently” to get the documents. But she said that in her experience, this was “exactly how Bechtel and URS operated at Hanford..."
http://www.publicintegrity.org/2014/10/21/15993/energy-department-inspector-blocked-probing-dismissal-hanford-engineer
1. Hanford Washington
2. LANL
3. LLNL
A fool? A little harsh. Those that enable or observe the retaliation and do nothing about it get to keep their jobs and perhaps advance for being compliant if not complicit. I don't think this creates a platform of virtue from which to make disparaging remarks of fellow DOE Contractor employees that are trying to do the right thing.
Huh?
DOE Contractor workers reporting whistleblower defined concerns are courageous, and they shouldn't be called "fools" by DOE Contractor employee onlookers.
What they should call you is part of the problem.
"Truth"? The "our mission trumps mismanagement or misconduct" argument does not float. Just ask those directly involved with the Sandia noncompetitive contract extension or Beth Sellers.
Congresswoman Heather Wilson was a Republican not a "left winger", and Beth Sellers was the Deputy Director at LANL.
Perhaps you should worry less about "left wingers" on the outside, and concentrate more on your inner circle that display failed ethics, poor management, and illegal conduct to the public and to the DOE IG.
February 24, 2015 at 8:01 AM
"Perhaps..." Or, perhaps not. Quien sabe?