Argonne director orders suspension of
work using small amounts of nuclear materials within a building
ARGONNE, Ill. (July 13, 2007) — The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Argonne
National Laboratory Director Robert Rosner has ordered suspension of work using
nuclear materials in two labs in one building on site effective July 3, 2007.
Rosner ordered this action at the conclusion of a laboratory evaluation of
issues identified during a Department of Energy walkthrough to confirm compliance
with nuclear facility requirements. These issues include deficiencies in
housekeeping, and work planning and control systems important for safety. At
no time was there a concern about a release of any hazardous material within
the facilities or into the environment.
Argonne has already taken steps to package and remove unneeded materials from
the facilities. In addition, Rosner has formed several teams to resolve immediate
issues, determine the root causes of the deficiencies and determine if any
other facilities at the laboratory have similar problems.
“Assuring the safety of our employees and the surrounding communities is,
and will continue to be, Argonne's top priority,” said Rosner. “I need to
be convinced that the control systems for work with nuclear materials provide
that assurance before I will propose restart of this work to DOE for approval.”
Materials stored in these two small facilities do not pose any danger to anyone
outside the section of the building containing them, and the facilities themselves
are confined, enclosed spaces that allow scientists to conduct experiments
with hazardous materials.
Prior to restart, Argonne will complete a thorough review of all nuclear operations
that is currently under way. Authorization to resume activities will require
approval of the Laboratory director and DOE.
About Argonne
Argonne National Laboratory brings the world's brightest scientists and engineers
together to find exciting and creative new solutions to pressing national problems
in science and technology. The nation's first national laboratory, Argonne
conducts leading-edge basic and applied scientific research in virtually every
scientific discipline. Argonne is managed by UChicago Argonne, LLC for the
U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science.
For more information, please contact Matthew Howard (630-252-7930 or mhoward@anl.gov)
at Argonne.
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