SNS News Archive - 2000

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December

Construction trade program graduates first class (Oak Ridger, 12/19)
Lawrence T. Young, president and chief executive officer of CROET, "Apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeship programs ensure East Tennesseans have access to the economic opportunities that are opening up at SNS."

SNS Holds Construction Job Fair Dec. 20 (Oak Ridger, 12/19)
The Spallation Neutron Source project is sponsoring a construction worker job fair from 3 to 5 p.m. Wednesday at the SNS offices, 701 Scarboro Road.

SNS construction is moving right along  (Oak Ridger, 12/15)
A year ago today, a crowd of officials, including Vice President Al Gore, gathered atop Chestnut Ridge for the groundbreaking of the Spallation Neutron Source project. "I thought that was a wonderful moment for the SNS," says David Moncton, executive director for the project. "But it's more fun to be past that ceremony and into the construction."

ORNL aglow over future (Knoxville News- Sentinel, 12/04)
Bill Madia, director of Oak Ridge National Laboratory, underscored the excitement of the Spallation Neutron Source, the biggest science project under construction in the United States, and the bright prospects for many of the laboratory's research divisions.

November

Madia: OR lab has a bright future  (Oak Ridger, 11/30)
"SNS is alive and well," Madia said. He pointed out the site excavation for SNS has been completed and that the project received full federal funding, $278.5 million, for this year.

SNS Is Coming Alive on Chestnut Ridge(Knoxville News- Sentinel, 11/22)
About 75 once-forested acres have been cleared, and about 1.3 million cubic yards of dirt have been excavated and relocated in the past few months, forming a plateau, big valley and small mountain on the site.

Science, defense projects could mean hundreds of jobs(Oak Ridger, 11/15)
The government's science and weapons complex in Oak Ridge hasn't seen so much construction activity in decades. As many as 1,600 to 2,400 hardhat jobs could be generated as major projects, including the $1.4 billion Spallation Neutron Source, move off the drawing board.

The Spallation Neutron Source is one of several projects creating jobs and contributing to a Construction boom in Oak Ridge (Knoxville News- Sentinel,11/14)
After years of relative inactivity, the government's Oak Ridge reservation is on the verge of a construction boom. Major projects are coming off the drawing board, starting with the Spallation Neutron Source -- a $1.4 billion research complex that's already under construction on Chestnut Ridge a few miles from Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

October

$1 million given to Oak Ridge for tech center (Knoxville News-Sentinel,10/31)
Oak Ridge has received a $1 million federal appropriation to help fund a science and technology conference center .  .  . Federal lawmakers who announced the funding said the conference center is especially needed in Oak Ridge because of the start of construction of the Spallation Neutron Source.

Statement by the President: VA/HUD, Energy/Water (White House Press Release, 10/27)
"Today I have signed into law H.R. 4635, the "Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 2001" and the "Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act, 2001." . . . Finally, I am pleased that the final bill provides $17.8 billion for the Department of Energy (DOE). This funding supports environmental restoration projects at DOE sites throughout the country and cutting-edge scientific research such as the Spallation Neutron Source.

Battle for ORO Funding Continues,  (Oak Ridger, 10/13)
Hope still lingers for $2.475 billion in funding for the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge Operations, which recently hit a couple of roadblocks. . . The bill included full funding of the administration's request for the Spallation Neutron Source project.

Wamp in the 3rd (Knoxville News- Sentinel, 10/11)
The Knoxville News-Sentinel endorses U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp, praising, among otheraccomplishments, his leadership in fighting for funding for the Spallation Neutron Source.

Formula of new funding plus cost-cutting has ORNL boss smiling (Knoxville News- Sentinel, 10/02 )
The lab director said 2001 and 2002 are the critical years for SNS funding, after which there should be sufficient construction progress to bring the world-class neutron source to reality. . . He also emphasized that the science project is a collaboration of six national laboratories, not just Oak Ridge.

September

Pleasant surprise: Funding for Spallation Neutron Source meets initial expectations(Knoxville News- Sentinel, 09/28 )
If there were doubts about the status of the Spallation Neutron Source at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, they were removed this week when congressional leaders approved full funding for construction to begin in earnest next year. The project will receive $278 million -- the entire amount proposed by the Clinton administration.

Thumbs up for SNS?Joint Committee OKs SNS, Mouse House funding  (Oak Ridger, 09/27)
"It's a very good day for science," Oak Ridge National Laboratory Director Bill Madia proclaimed during a phone interview late Tuesday afternoon. Specifically, $278.5 million has been allotted for construction on the Spallation Neutron Source and $2.5 million has been allocated for the creation of a new Mouse House.

Our Views: Science is big winner in budget appropriation (Oak Ridger, 09/27)
Tuesday was a great day for the sciences, political and applied. Led by the Clinton administration and Tennessee's delegation in the Congress, the cause of science was served up a hugely generous share of funding during the important work of a House-Senate conference committee.

Congress OKs more than was expected (Knoxville News-Sentinel, 09/27)
In a big boost for Oak Ridge and the Department of Energy, congressional leaders agreed on more funding than was [expected] to begin construction next year on one of the country's most expensive science projects. . . The final funding of $278 million matched the Energy Department's initial recommendation.

SNS looks like a go: Committee OKs funding for SNS, Mouse House (Oak Ridger, 09/26)
In what the scientific and political communities were jointly heralding as a "turning point" and "one of the defining moments in the history of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory," a House-Senate conference committee on this afternoon offered full funding to key local projects. The action is widely regarded as assuring funding the biggest boost yet for the Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) and the Mouse House, both for Oak Ridge National Laboratory

$200M revamp sought for Oak Ridge lab (Tennessean, 09/12)
Energy Secretary Bill Richardson and Gov. Don Sundquist yesterday outlined what could be the biggest construction project at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory complex since World War II. . . . The General Assembly has approved $8 million for the first of these buildings, a Joint Institute for Neutron Sciences.

DOE chief backs ORNL upgrade (Knoxville News-Sentinel, 09/12)
U.S. Energy Secretary Bill Richardson topped a madcap trip to the Atomic City on Monday by endorsing a $200 million modernization plan at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. . . . The state [Tennessee] last year pledged millions of dollars for new facilities, including an institute for visiting scientists at the Spallation Neutron Source -- the $1.4 billion research center under construction on nearby Chestnut Ridge.

Senate approves funds for SNS, Y-12 (Oak Ridger, 09/11)
The Senate's approval of the fiscal year 2001 Energy and Water Appropriations bill is a positive sign for . . . the continuation of the Spallation Neutron Source. The Energy and Water Appropriations bill will now go to a conference committee to work out the differences between the Senate and House versions.

TVA director urges regional SNS push(Oak Ridger, 09/01)
Calling the Spallation Neutron Source now under construction "as big as what happened when Oak Ridge first located as a federal facility," a director of the Tennessee Valley Authority on Thursday urged area government and civic leaders to work together to assure its completion.

August

LANL Appoints New Managers to Strengthen Its Performance in SNS (Inside Energy,08/28)
LANL has named Dan Rej director of the lab's SNS division, Will Fox deputy director, and appointed James Stovall as chief scientist for SNS.

Scrap from Maine plant to be used in SNS (Oak Ridger, 08/16)
Scrap materials being shipped into Oak Ridge from the decontamination and dismantling of the Maine Yankee Power Plant may be reducing the amount of radioactive waste being sent to a South Carolina disposal site, but it will also prove beneficial in the construction of a local research facility.

July

SNS work is on schedule 'Mass excavation' is 25-percent complete Oak Ridger,07/25)
Located on Chestnut Ridge, a 75-acre site between Oak Ridge ational Laboratory and the Oak Ridge Y-12 Plant, the trees that once hindered work at the site are long since gone. A view of the site these days will include clouds of dirt, heavy machinery cruising the terrain and an average of 55 workers a day doing a variety of jobs.

Large research facilities to lose out in science spending spree? (Nature, v. 406, pp. 221 - 222, July 20, 2000)
It is not looking a good year to be a physicist — or even a biologist — who depends on facilities supported by the US Department of Energy. Once again, the department is set to miss out on the large increases in science spending expected to emerge from this year's budget round in Washington. Nature Online

Panel OKs $18 billion for DOE (Oak Ridger, 07/20)
The Senate Appropriations Committee approved yesterday the Energy and Water FY01 Appropriations bill providing $17.95 billion for the Department of Energy . . .Included in that recommendation is $221.9 million to continue construction on the Spallation Neutron Source. DOE officials were seeking $278 million for work on the $1.4 billion project.

SNS fares well in spending bill at the expense of other science (Inside Energy, 07/17)
Senate appropriators last week approved an FY-01 energy and water spending bill that includes $18.3 billion for DOE programs, $1 billion more than the House approved last month, and $200 million more than the department's request The bill (H.R. 4733) is expected to be considered by the full Appropriations panel Tuesday (July 18).

SNS fortunes double to $240 million . . . for now (Oak Ridger, 07/13)
A Senate subcommittee appropriations bill contains $240 million for the Spallation Neutron Source -- just more than double the funds recommended by the House. SNS Executive Director David Moncton said this morning it's a promising sign for the project.

$240M surprise to start Spallation building: Subcommittee OKs increase over House recommendation (Knoxville News-Sentinel, 07/13)
A Senate subcommittee will recommend $240 million to start major construction work next year on the new major research center slated for Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Tennessee Sens. Bill Frist and Fred Thompson said Wednesday.

Administration Protests House Cuts In SNS, Other Science Programs (Inside Energy, 07/03 )
The Office of Management and Budget last week listed multiple objections to an FY-01 energy and water spending bill that was approved by the House. . . Among the administration's specific objections within the science account is the bill's $161.9-million reduction in construction funding for the Spallation Neutron Source at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

June

SNS funding below request: House panel pens in half the funds (Oak Ridger, 06/21)
Department of Energy officials were seeking $278 million to begin work on the foundation of the $1.4 billion project. However, the House Appropriations Committee approved only $119 million of the requested funding, with the majority of the money going toward construction.

House panel cuts spallation funding (Knoxville News-Sentinel, 06/21)A House committee Tuesday approved less than half the funds that federal officials want to start building a new flagship research center at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, which over six years may cost $1.4 billion.

SNS: Wamp, Moncton cautiously optimistic (Oak Ridger, 06/14)
The Spallation Neutron Source project received a slim $100 million proposed allocation from the House Appropriations Energy and Water Subcommittee in a closed "markup session" Monday evening. The subcommittee's proposal for the SNS allotment was part of the Department of Energy's $17.3 billion allocation -- an increase of $686.5 million over FY 2000 but short of the administration's request of $18.1 billion.

SNS funding passes (Oak Ridger, 06/13)
The House Energy and Water Subcommittee is proposing that funding for the Spallation Neutron Source in Oak Ridge be held to its current funding level of about $100 million. The figure is well below the amount sought and recommended by the Clinton administration.

Wamp says Gore beatable in Tennessee (Oak Ridger, 06/06)
Asked if candidate Bush would voice support for the Spallation Neutron Source proposed for Oak Ridge, Wamp said, "If I have anything to do with it, he will."

May

Hill Seen Likely To Grant Bid For SNS, Though Outcome May Take Time
(Inside Energy, 05/29)
Supporters of the Spallation Neutron Source will have to be patient before Congress decides how much FY-01 money to provide the $1.3-billion facility

Direction mapped for SNS (Oak Ridger, 05/24)
Today was the last day for scientists gathered for the three-day Spallation Neutron Source users meeting in Washington to be briefed on the $1.4 billion SNS project, scheduled to be finished at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in 2006.

Scientists examining how Oak Ridge SNS venture might improve lives (Knoxville News-Sentinel, 05/24)
About 200 scientists are attending a three-day conference in the nation's capital to exchangeideas about how the Spallation Neutron Source can improve people's lives.

Contract Awarded for SNS Access Road (Oak Ridger, 05/03)
A $2.9 million contract has been awarded to a joint venture comprising H&M Enterprises of Knoxville and East Tennessee Mechanical Contractors of Oliver Springs to build an access road to the Spallation Neutron Source.

House Panels Have Less Money For DOE (Inside Energy, 05/01)
Energy Secretary Bill Richardson and other officials have called increased funding for SNS a top priority in FY-01. But the aide was skeptical about the department convincing appropriators to meetthe $281 million figure.

April

SNS Open House (Oak Ridger, 04/26)
Officials from Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the Department of Energy, a ream of areacontractors and members of the public attended an open house for the Spallation Neutron Source project Tuesday evening.

State's increasing involvement with ORNL might become even closer (Knoxville News-Sentinel,04/24)
Even before the UT-Battelle partnership. . . the state had promised to fund the Joint Institute for Neutron Sciences as part of UT's involvement with the Spallation Neutron Source, and now it looks like JINS may further solidify federal-state relations in Oak Ridge.

Business briefs: Avisco gets SNS contract(Knoxville News-Sentinel,04/11)
The first major construction contract for the Spallation Neutron Source has been awarded to a Knoxville firm. Avisco Inc. received the $4.8 million contract for overall site excavation.

SNS will cost $30 million less because of a new State tax law(Inside Energy,04/10)
In a March 24 letter to House Science Committee Chairman F. James Sensenbrenner Jr. and Rep. Bart Gordon, D-Tenn., GAO said the Tennessee legislature's decision in January to exempt the Spallation Neutron Source from state taxes saved DOE $30 million. When completed in 2006.

Tax break on Oak Ridge science project to save $30 million (The Tennessean, 04/05)
The U.S. General Accounting Office confirmed yesterday that a Tennessee tax break will ave about $30 million on the construction of the $1.4 billion Spallation Neutron Source science project in Oak Ridge, Tenn.

March

Spallation Neutron Source project wins opponent's OK(Knoxville News Sentinnel, 03/09 )
A congressional critic of the Spallation Neutron Source has become a supporter, and that could boost the chances for funding the $1.4 billion science project.

Key committee supports SNS (Oak Ridger, 03/09)
U.S. Rep. James Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., chairman of the House of Representatives' Science Committee, recommended full funding for the project in a document the committee sent to Congress that outlines funding guidelines for science projects in fiscal year 2001.

February

City has bright future, Baker says (Oak Ridger, 02/25)
Speaking at the Oak Ridge Rotary Club, Howard Baker remarked on "the importance of the proposed Spallation Neutron Source and noted the difficulty of getting such projects completed."

New Budget Would Spur OR Construction (Knoxville News-Sentinel, 02/19)
"The $281 million proposal by the Clinton administration includes about $115 million for SNS construction, which would be done through contracts with Knight Jacobs, the project's architect/engineer and construction manager."

Construction Funds For SNS Help Drive 12% Hike In Science Request(Inside Energy, 02/14)
The request seeks 12% more funding for the department's science programs than they received for FY-2000, the biggest increase requested for them since 1992, Richardson said. Much of that increase would pay for construction of the $1.3-billion Spallation Neutron Source at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

$18.9 billion sought to fuel Department of Energy in 2001 (CNN.com, 02/11)
" Funding of $281 million was requested for a state-of-the-art neutron scattering facility, called the Spallation Neutron Source . . . The Spallation Neutron Source is used to develop stronger and lighter materials, more efficient motors, and to better understand the structure of matter."

SNS Ceremony (Oak Ridger, 02/09)
Gov. Don Sundquist, left, recently signed the bill granting a sales tax exemption to the Spallation Neutron Source during its construction at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

$2 billion is earmarked for Oak Ridge in DOE budget (Knoxville News-Sentinel,02/08) "$281 million for work on the Spallation Neutron Source, the nation's biggest science project. Construction at the Chestnut Ridge SNS site is expected to gear up this spring...

3.1-Billion Bid Seen For DOE Science(Inside Energy,02/07)
"SNS, which when completed will be the world's largest neutron scattering device, received $117.9 million from Congress for FY-2000. DOE hopes to open the $1.3-billion facility by 2006."

State Briefs: Spallation tax break signed(Knoxville News-Sentinel,02/03) Gov. Don Sundquist ceremoniously signed the law Wednesday creating a $28 million tax break that allows the $1.44 million Spallation Neutron Source federal research project to be built in Oak Ridge.

Gov. Don Sundquist, Bill Madia, and state Rep. Gene Caldwell at bill signing ceremony

Governor holds bill-signing for Spallation tax break(Oak Ridger,02/03)
"We have more PhDs in and around Oak Ridge than anywhere else in the country," Sundquist said. "This will continue that tradition. It's important to the state and important to the country." The neutron source is projected to have an annual operating budget of more than $100 million and attract 2,000 scientists and engineers a year to Oak Ridge. It also is expected to create 2,350 jobs directly and indirectly during construction, and about 1,500 permanent jobs when it opens.

ORNL scientists receive award for neutron research (Oak Ridger, 02/02)
George Wignall and Michael M. Agamalian awarded the Arnold O. Beckman Award by the International Society for Measurement and Control.

January

The Spallation Neutron Source Is Exempted From Tennessee TaxesInside Energy, 01/31)
Under a bill signed last week by Gov. Don Sundquist. The measure clears the way for Oak Ridge National Laboratory to begin spending FY-2000 funds on construction of the $1.3-billion facility. The new law exempts SNS from $30 million in state use taxes

Spallation Neutron Source includes good-neighbor policy (Knoxville News-Sentinel, 01/31)
Things seem to be falling in place for the Spallation Neutron Source. An agreement has been reached whereby the U.S. Department of Energy project will pay for a new research tower...

Tax break for neutron project cleared (Tennessean,01/29) -
A couple of swipes from Gov. Don Sundquist's pen, and a $28 million tax break for a $1.44 billion federal research facility in Tennessee will become law.

Local and state briefs: Tax-break bill goes to governor(Knoxville News-Sentinel,.01/28)
NASHVILLE -The Legislature gave final passage Thursday to a $28 million tax break to support a massive neutron science project in Oak Ridge. The House voted 95-0 to exempt the planned $1.44 billion Spallation Neutron Source at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory from state sales taxes...

SNS gets state tax exemption(Oak Ridger, 01/27)
The final rite of passage for the Spallation Neutron Source is as good as over. ouse of Representatives unanimously approved a sales tax reprieve for the Department of Energy project this morning...

SNS bill nearing end of journey(Oak Ridger, 01/26)
"The bill to free the Spallation Neutron Source from state tax obligations has been passed by two state House committees and will go before the full House for a vote Thursday."

Tax break for federal lab sails through state Senate (Tennessean, 01/21)
The Senate passed on a 31-0 vote and sent to the House yesterday legislation giving a $28.3 million tax break to a federal research project planned in East Tennessee."

SNS 'zips through' state Senate(Oak Ridger, 01/20)
"In what UT-Battelle spokesman Billy Stair called "a vote of extraordinary support," the state Senate unanimously passed a bill to relieve the Spallation Neutron Source project of its state tax obligations."

$28.3 million tax break nearer for state project (Tennessean, 01/20)
"Legislation giving a $28.3 million tax break to a federal research project planned in East Tennessee was approved by a House subcommittee on a unanimous vote yesterday and is scheduled for a vote in the state Senate today."

Neutron project opens possibilities (Tennessean, 01/19)
"The federal research project would be built over the next six years at Oak Ridge. It is being billed as the largest civilian construction project in the country."

State Senate OKs SNS tax bill (Oak Ridger, 01/18)
"A tax relief bill for the Spallation Neutron Source sailed over its first major hurdle as the state Senate's Finance Committee unanimously approved the measure this morning."

Local legislators hope SNS tax relief bill passes quickly (Oak Ridger, 01/12)
"Local state legislators are hoping that a tax relief bill for the Spallation Neutron Source will pass through the Legislature at the speed of neutrons in flight."