Lab, Energy Department Revamp Waste Cleanup

Lab, Energy Department Revamp Waste Cleanup

http://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/lab-energy-department-revamp-waste-cleanup/article_0b2c32bf-cca3-57cc-8c51-11bc74ef818b.html
“The Laboratory today is implementing a number of measures aimed at supporting the Department of Energy’s objectives to reopen the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) repository near Carlsbad,” LANL Director Charlie McMillan said in an email notifying lab workers of the changes.

“Among the actions are changes in our leadership responsible for managing our environmental cleanup and transuranic waste operations. I have asked Deputy Associate Director Enrique (Kiki) Torres to serve as acting lead for our Environmental Programs while the Lab works with DOE to develop a path forward.”

Oak Ridge news

Oak Ridge news:

http://knoxblogs.com/atomiccity/2014/09/26/los-alamos-director-give-lecture-baker-center/

Los Alamos director to give lecture at Baker Center

Charles McMillan, director of Los Alamos National Laboratory, will deliver the annual Distinguished Global Security Lecture on Oct. 1 at the University of Tennessee. The event will take place in the Toyota Auditorium at the Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy.

The lecture begins at 5:30 p.m.

According to information distributed by UT’s Institute for Nuclear Security, the title of McMillan’s lecture is, “The Timeline of Technology.” He will discuss the power behind policy-making that is informed by technology.

Shakeup at LANL

From the ABQ Journal:

A respected publication that reports on the nation’s nuclear labs says there’s been a shake-up at Los Alamos National Laboratory in connection with the lab’s role in a radioaction leak at the country’s nuclear waste dump near Carlsbad.

Weapons Complex Monitor is reporting that LANL Director Charlie McMillan on Thursday “relieved several managers of their duties in relation to the site’s transuranic waste processing problems that have been linked to the radiological release at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant.”

The Monitor’s bulletin adds that the affected managers include Dan Cox, LANL deputy associate director of environmental programs; Jeff Mousseau, associate director of environmental programs; Kathy Johns-Hughes, Director of the LANL TRU (transuranic waste) Program; and Tori George, program director for regulatory management.

The four apparently have been reassigned.

Cleanup, Cleanup!

DOE News (from the Los Alamos Daily Post):

Today, Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz directed the Office of Environmental Management (EM) and the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) to develop a plan for the transition of legacy environmental cleanup work at the Department's Los Alamos site from NNSA to EM.

DOE issued the following statement this morning:

"The safe and efficient cleanup of the Los Alamos Site in New Mexico is a high priority for the Department of Energy. The Secretary of Energy has directed the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) and the Office of Environmental Management (EM) to develop a plan for the transition of the Los Alamos Site legacy environmental cleanup work from NNSA to EM. This will align the focus and accountability of cleanup work with the Department's environmental management program and enable the Los Alamos site prime contractor, Los Alamos National Security, to continue its focus on the core national security missions at the site. NNSA and EM will work together to evaluate all elements necessary for an effective transition including federal oversight, acquisition strategies, and quality, safety and security."

Brain drain

Newsline 09/26/14

Newly minted Lab machinists ready to support research

"After four years of training as machinist apprentices at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Christian Oda and Will Morton are ready to apply their trade. The two graduated Sept. 18 from the Engineering Directorate's Machinist Apprentice Program.
...
The Machinist Apprentice Program is a four-year-program that teaches entry-level machinists the technical skills and safety training they need to be certified machinists at LLNL and in the state of California. The ultra-selective program (most applicants are turned away) provides education and training in the machine tool trade, specific to the work done by LLNL researchers. That means Lab machinists are manufacturing products not built anywhere else in the world...."

Comment at bottom from
Kim Shelley,, 09-26-2014 07:04:16 AM:

"It is sad that the newly graduated apprentice, Willard Morton, has quit the Laboratory. I hope where he has gone to work is a bright career for him. He will be missed." 

DOE to Break Out Cleanup Work at Los Alamos

DOE to Break Out Cleanup Work at Los Alamos, LANL Cleanup Managers Relieved of Duties

The Department of Energy will break out the cleanup work at Los Alamos National Laboratory from the National Nuclear Security Administration to be managed by the Office of Environmental Management, WC Monitor has learned. DOE is expected to announce its plans for the cleanup work currently included in the Los Alamos National Security contract as soon as today, though the exact contract vehicle or vehicles to be used remains unclear. The decision comes as LANL Director Charlie McMillan yesterday relieved several managers of their duties in relation to the site’s transuranic waste processing problems that have been linked to the radiological release at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant, WC Monitor has learned. The impacted managers include Dan Cox, LANL deputy associate director of environmental programs, Jeff Mousseau, associate director of environmental programs, Kathy Johns-Hughes, Director of the LANL TRU Program, Tori George, program director for regulatory management.

LANL’s cleanup program has been the focus of scrutiny after a drum processed at LANL was found to be the source of the Feb. 14 radiological release at WIPP. The New Mexico Environment Department has cited LANL for permit violations and also called for breaking out cleanup work at LANL to be managed by DOE EM as a condition for the restart of operations at WIPP. For more information, see this week’s issue of WC Monitor.

Nuclear modernization and budgets

The conflict between budgets and nuclear modernization got more attention today in a NY Times article: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/22/us/us-ramping-up-major-renewal-in-nuclear-arms.html?hpw&rref=us&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&version=HpHedThumbWell&module=well-region&region=bottom-well&WT.nav=bottom-well
so it goes.
September 22, 2014 at 4:52 AM
 Anonymous said...
Impossible.

DOE is the meddlesome arm of Congress.

Congress meddles where it likes.

To the elect, even outright failure is preferable to limitations its perogatives.

The only hope is to put authority to run the labs on a body independent of its authority, such as a state government.

You decide it this is possible again.
September 22, 2014 at 12:14 PM
 Anonymous said...
DOE is the meddlesome arm of Congress.

September 22, 2014 at 12:14 PM

You apparently do not understand that DOE is a Executive Branch cabinet Department, which reports to the President, not to Congress. Obama has shown the way for his cabinet Secretaries to ignore Congress, just as he does. The fact that Moniz might not choose that method doesn't mean it is not open to him. In fact, it makes him a compromiser, unlike anyone else in the Administration.