Fire danger: ModerateUpdated at 8:05 a.m.
Moratorium on foreign visitors
The Albuquerque Journal reported that the Department of Energy would today certify to Congress that the moratorium on foreign visitors could be lifted, a move that would begin a 45-day period for Congressional review leading to the final lifting of the moratorium.
The Laboratory has received no official communication from DOE to confirm this news report.
The process to end the moratorium requires Energy Secretary Bill Richardson to send a package to Congress that includes letters from the FBI, CIA and DOE's counterintelligence office certifying the security of the laboratories' foreign visitor programs. The law states that the moratorium remains in effect until 45 days after the Energy Secretary submits those materials to Congress.
News from earlier today
Four groups will become part of new computing division
Four Laboratory groups will become part of the new Computer and Computational Sciences (CCS) Division when it becomes operational in October.
The Advanced Computing Laboratory (CIC-ACL), Computer Research and Applications (CIC-3), and some employees from Transport Methods (X-6) and Hydrodynamic Methods (X-3) are the four core groups that will make up the new division.
The new Computer and Computational Sciences Division is part of the Lab's Nuclear Weapons Directorate. Andy White will be acting division director and Buck Thompson will be acting deputy division director until these positions are filled permanently through a national, open, advertised search. White and Thompson are with the Lab's DELPHI project office.
The new CCS Division will conduct research in computer and computational science that contributes to creative solutions of important national problems and leadership of the information technology community. The new division will provide a broad scientific and technological foundation for solution of problems in nuclear weapons, particularly the Accelerated Strategic Computing Initiative, threat reduction, biosciences, energy and environment and other areas of importance to the country.
Earlier this summer an executive committee was formed to help with the transition to the new organization. The executive committee include White and Thompson, Rod Oldehoeft of the ACL, Jim Morel of X-6, Adolfy Hoisie of CIC-3, Don McCoy of Simulation and Computing (NW-SC), Dan Butler of the Theoretical (T) Division, Doug Kothe of Structure: Property Relations (MST-8) and Ken Kennedy of Rice University.
More information about the new Computer and Computation Sciences Division can be found at http://www.ccs.lanl.gov/ online. Or see the June 23 Daily Newsbulletin.
--Steve Sandoval
New
Mexico benefits from Lab's gift program
Ray Roybal, right, of Accelerator Physics and Engineering (LANSCE-1) gives Jeff Toomey of Northern New Mexico Community College a quick lesson on how to operate an electronic plotter. The machine was given to the Española college through the Laboratory's new education equipment gift program. Photo courtesy of Property Management (BUS-6)
Higher education institutions in New Mexico and around the country are beneficiaries of more than 30 pieces of Laboratory equipment since the Laboratory Education Equipment Gift program officially began last spring.
The equipment ranges from metal lathes for machining to an electron microscope, arc welders to personal computers. Two out-of-state universities also received lasers, while a small college in Illinois received a gas chromatograph and supporting accessories.
Of the roughly 35 pieces of equipment donated or pending donation, 15 have gone to in-state universities, according to information from Johnson Controls Northern New Mexico, which stores equipment that has been designated for donation to colleges.
Nine pieces of equipment have been donated to Northern New Mexico Community College in Española; a metal lathe to New Mexico State University's chemistry and biochemistry department; a geiger counter to University of New Mexico, Los Alamos; and four pieces of equipment to New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology in Socorro.
Among the equipment donated to New Mexico Tech is a ceramic tape caster and two tensile strength testers.
Last month, Cal Tech began moving 150 cosmic ray detectors that had been at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center (see the July 26 Daily Newsbulletin).
North Carolina State University will receive a dye laser, two personal computers, an optical table and other equipment to support the laser. Baylor University in Waco, Texas recently received an excimer laser and supporting equipment, said Thomasina Gurule of Business Planning and Budgeting (BUS-3) and coordinator of the Laboratory Education Equipment Gift program.
Excess equipment, as defined under federal guidelines, is eligible for "gifting" to education institutions in New Mexico and elsewhere under the new program. This equipment includes computers, computer accessories, photographic equipment, communication equipment, measuring tools, and special industrial and metal-working machinery.
Earlier this year Laboratory Director John Browne proposed to DOE that a new process be developed to expeditiously gift excess property to educational institutions and nonprofit organizations. Los Alamos and other DOE laboratories have been able to give equipment considered surplus under DOE's current Energy Related Laboratory Equipment program. In addition, since 1994, a program has allowed the Lab to donate excess equipment, mostly computers, to kindergartens through high schools.
Business administration and outreach staff at the Laboratory worked with DOE to develop criteria for the program, one of several new economic development and educational outreach initiatives being pursued by the Lab.
Educational or nonprofit institutions receiving excess property must use it for technical and scientific education or research activities.
Furniture, office supplies or vehicles, for example, aren't eligible for gifting. All equipment deemed excess will be reviewed for security, hazards, high risk and export concerns before being declared eligible.
The Laboratory will document and keep records of all excess equipment that is gifted under the program.
Laboratory organizations with equipment that could be considered for donation under the new program can write to leeg@lanl.gov by e-mail. Or call Gurule at 5-8079.
--Steve Sandoval
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Northern New Mexcio Community College receives Unix Computer When officials from Dartnell Enterprises and Abba Technologies wanted to donate a computer recently, they didn't know how to proceed or who to donate it to. Enter Carlos Chacon of the Lab's Small Business Office (BUS-DO). Chacon facilitated the donation of a Unix Computer to Northern New Mexico Community College, which plans to use the computer in its fabrication and computer aided design program. Officials from Dartnell/Abba, a high-end computer support company that provides services to the Lab, turned over the computer to the Math Department at Northern, and other school officials in a ceremony last month in Española. "They are being good corporate neighbors to Northern New Mexico," Chacon said of Ed Jimenez and Dennis Melia of Abba/Dartnell. "I was happy to help in facilitating the donation." Since the property wasn't owned by the Laboratory it doesn't fall under the Lab's new education equipment gift program, Chacon said (see accompanying story). Appendix J of the University of California's contract to operate the Lab for the Department of Energy commits the Lab to improving its corporate citizenship involvement in local communities. "To the extent that we can help Laboratory suppliers with community based projects we will do so because everyone benefits and it's also the right thing for the Laboratory to do," said Chacon. --Steve Sandoval |
Last week to register for $100 prize
Property managers wear two hats at the Laboratory. One hat is for contract management and compliance. The other hat deals with customer service.
Allen Wallace of Property Management (BUS-6) explained that contract management and compliance is necessary, but "we prefer wearing the customer service hat and hope that our efforts to improve all aspects of property management have made your life at the Lab easier."
During Property Awareness Month in August, BUS-6 has teamed with the Daily Newsbulletin to raise Labwide awareness about property issues. BUS-6 is asking employees for feedback on the usefulness of its services.
"Please share your thoughts or any specific, constructive ideas you have to help us improve our service to the Laboratory," said Wallace. Employees who provide feedback also are reminded to register through the Property Awareness Month Web page for a chance to win a $100 prize. The drawing for the prize is Thursday.
The prize was donated by the National Property Management Association. All University of California employees, subcontract personnel and students may enter.
Employees wanting more information on all aspects of property management can contact their property administrator or call the Property Help Line at 5-3230.
--Steve Sandoval
Documentation of primary and secondary utilities
The Excavation/Soil Disturbance Permit Process, LIR 402-880-01.1, does not require the documentation of secondary utilities discovered in the field during excavations. Laboratory personnel have experienced injuries, power outages and work stoppages because of a lack of knowledge of the location of utilities. Environment, Safety and Health (ESH) Division has issued a notice and subsequent change to the LIR establishing a process that can reduce the number of accidents and providing a process for documenting fundamental information relative to secondary utilities discovered during excavation activities. Additional information is available in the online notice at http://labreq.lanl.gov/pdfs/ops/alerts/Notice0056.pdf (Adobe Acrobat required).
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ESH issues notices concerning
wildlife around the Laboratory
