LLNL - The True Story -

Has Russia resumed nuclear resting?  See NYT article here: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/29/us/politics/russia-nuclear-tests.html?action=click&module=Latest&pgtype=Homepage  

DOE contractor employees are misled from the get go regarding the investigative authority of DOE to address whistleblower claims When Hanford contractors Bechtel and URS (also members of the LLNS LLC) were asked to provide records of a Hanford whistleblower employee, Bechtel and URS refused, and essentially told the DOE IG, yes the DOE IG, to take a hike.  It would appear that DOE claims to offer whistleblower protection knowing that they have no authority to demand records to prove or disprove contractor retaliation. This uncommunicated detail which appears to be a form of fraud, simply buys more time for DOE contractors to mitigate whistleblower issues using tax payer dollars.  https://www.energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2014/10/f18/IG-0923.pdf

Another Scandal Former LANL scientist indicted for making false statements SANTA FE, N.M. — A former top scientist with Los Alamos National Laboratories has been federally charged with three counts of making false official statements about “his involvement with a program established by the Chinese government to recruit people with access to and knowledge of foreign technology and intellectual property,” according to a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney’s Office. https://www.abqjournal.com/1320008/former-lanl-scientist-indicted-for-making-false-statements.html

https://www.opb.org/news/article/hanford-nuclear-reservation-contamination-health-workers/

Another set of unfulfilled NNSA FOIA requests go to District Court On May 9, 2019, my Attorney for FOIA matters filed "Rivera v. National Nuclear Security Administration et al" in CA Northern District Court. The complaint alleges failure to provide timely responses to 4 NNSA FOIA requests. In summary, the FOIAs requested the following records: 1. NNSA LFO Contracting Officer review of legal fee reimbursement allowability based on DOE Acquisition Letter AL 2016-06 that  requires review of underlying contractor misconduct in whistleblower cases  2. Career indefinite employee and supplemental labor employee lay offs at LLNL from June 1, 1984 to November 1, 2013 3. Records relating to the LLNL HEAF 10kg port glass rupture during an August 30, 2013 experiment  4. Legal fee reimbursements to LLNS for the period of May 18, 2018 to January 18, 2019 related to my whistleblower case https://www.pacermonitor.com/public/case/28150710/Rivera_v_National_Nuclear_Security_Administration_...

https://www.nbcbayarea.com/investigations/Theyre-waiting-for-us-to-die--Ten-Year-Battle-Over-Health-Benefits-for-UC-Lab-Retirees-Finally-Heads-to-Trial-509864601.html

This could be the beginning of the end for ICF.  http://www.independentnews.com/news/lab-s-nif-slated-for-budget-cut/article_1e8b0b14-71b7-11e9-a0a0-ab1184287671.html?mode=jqm

New Study Finds NNSA Pit Strategy Unlikely to Meet Production Deadline, Lawmaker Says https://www.exchangemonitor.com/235121-2/?printmode=1

https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2019/05/02/study-when-it-comes-research-output-where-phds-get-hired-matters-more-where-they This is an interesting study that shows that faculty productivity depends on mostly on the institution where one is at not the institution where one got their Phd. The message is that if the organization is excellent it brings up everything. This was an argument used in the past at the labs as why we needed excellence at the labs. In other words having excellence in open science will bring up the quality of all parts of the lab.