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Monday, Jan. 10, 2000
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Director's answers to questions submitted
to future@lanl.gov, Part 19
Laboratory Director John Browne has completed a set of answers
to questions submitted to future@lanl.gov,
Part 19. (see the Director's home page under "Ask
the Director"). The director is always open to employee
questions and will answer those sent to him at future@lanl.gov.
|
Pollution Prevention exhibit
PHOTO
Michael Padilla, an employee of Materials Management (BUS-4),
checks out the new exhibit, '20 Years of Pollution Prevention
at Los Alamos National Laboratory', located outside of the cafeteria
area on the second floor of the Otowi Building in the Lab's main
technical area. The poster display -- presented by the Environmental
Science and Technology Division's Environmental Stewardship Office
-- highlights the Lab's past and planned achievements in pollution
prevention and waste minimation from 1993 through 2013. The poster
was part of the Lab's exhibit at the U.S. Department of Energy's
1999 Pollution Prevention Conference recently held in Albuquerque.
Past, present and future pollution-prevention success stories
featured in the display include the following:
- An initiative at the Material Science and Technology (MST)
Division's Sigma Complex between 1993 and 1995 that withdrew
170,000 square feet from radiological control area designation.
The action reduced generation of radioactive waste by 340 cubic
meters a year and resulted in significant administrative cost
savings.
- Lab-initiated recycling programs for cardboard, metal, brush,
paper and junk mail that began in 1996, the beginning of the
Lab recycling facility at Technical Area 60 in the fall of 1999
and recovery of materials that otherwise would have been disposed
as waste.
- An intiative planned for this year that will increase water
usage efficiency of cooling towers at the Lab.
- Plans over the next 10 years for systematically replacing
equipment, such as chillers, that use ozone-depleting materials.
In many cases, energy savings derived from replacing older equipment
with more energy-efficient devices will help defray replacement
costs.
The poster will be on display for the next couple of months.
Those with questions about the Environmental Stewardship Office's
programs can send questions to wastenot@lanl.gov
or visit the organization's webpage at http://emeso.lanl.gov.
Information about the 1999 DOE Pollution Prevention Conference
is available online at http://p2.sandia.gov.
Energy Department proceeds with implementation
of National Nuclear Security Administration
On Friday, the Department of Energy took two additional steps
toward establishment of a new semi-autonomous agency, the National
Nuclear Security Administration. Energy Secretary Bill Richardson
met for the first time with the panel charged with conducting
a search for a qualified Under Secretary for Nuclear Security.
In addition, Richardson delivered to Capitol Hill the DOE's Implementation
Plan for the NNSA. For more information, see the DOE
news release.
Reading the label
Editors note: The Wellness Center is sponsoring a Celebrate
Health 2000 Incentive Campaign beginning today through the end
of February. For the next eight weeks, the Daily Newsbulletin
will publish a weekly health-incentive tip. For more information,
call the Wellness Center at 7-7166.
Now that "nutrition facts" are part of every food
and beverage label, including some bottled water, we have a better
idea of what we're eating. But we may not have a clearer idea,
given all the measurements and percentages. The one clear statement
is calories -- or is it? The cookie package may say "reduced
fat" in big letters, and on the label it says 120 calories.
You figure it's a great deal. As you finish off that box of cookies,
feeling good about being health conscious, you read the back closely
and discover you just ate 25 servings? What manufacturers consider
a serving is usually absurdly small -- you'll be amazed once you
discover how many people you can feed with just a box of cookies.
Start reading the little print.
--Health Enhancement Systems Inc.
BlueCross/BlueShield concerns
A Dec. 21 New Mexican article raised concerns about
the availability of emergency room facilities in Santa Fe for
those with Blue Cross/Blue Shield of New Mexico health insurance.
Gene Kersh, BCBSNM's manager, Los Alamos National Laboratory,
Dedicated Service Unit, has responded.
"I did read the article in the Santa Fe New Mexican regarding
the Northern New Mexico Emergency Physicians," said Kersh.
"While it is true that this group does not currently have
a contract with Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Mexico/HMO New Mexico,
it is not true that visits to the emergency room are being denied.
We have covered, and continue to cover medically necessary claims
billed for the ER physicians. I felt the article was very misleading.
I want to reiterate that these ER charges have been and will continue
to be paid.
"Anne Rice, one of our network Representatives, will be
attending the Health Advisory Committee meeting on Jan. 25 to
further explain this issue to the committee."
If you have questions regarding the Lab's health-care insurers,
send them to the HAC's e-mail address, hac@lanl.gov.
HAC will facilitate getting answers to employees' concerns and
questions. In addition, HAC has started a series of noontime brown
bag meetings that focus on health care. The first of these was
held Dec. 10 and dealt with prescription services. The next will
discuss the referral process, and like the first, will have BCBSNM
representatives available to answer questions.
When the logistics for this brown bag are finalized, the Newsbulletin
will carry an announcement.
HAC also has a Web site at http://www.hr.lanl.gov/Hac/Index.stm
that links to the BCBSNM drug formulary and has additional information
about HAC.
|
On today's bulletin
board |
|
Commuter's
Corner | Parking
areas around TA-3 |
 Los Alamos: The Next 50 Years series
- Women and metabolism
- Chronic Beryllium Disease Prevention Program
- Celebrate Health 2000 at the Wellness Center
- Los Alamos Symphony Orchestra (a Lab-sanctioned
organization) and Los Alamos Choral Society winter concert
- American Society for Industrial Security
monthly meeting
- The Wellness Center classes for 2000
- Los Alamos Arts Council activity
- Music and Movement class at Mesa Public Library
|
- Smoking Cessation Support Group to begin
Jan. 18
- Meet Santa Fe artist at Mesa Public Library
- Historic Properties at Los Alamos National
Laboratory
- The Los Alamos Little Theater presents a
melodrama
- UNM's Executive Master of Business Administration
information session Jan. 13
- Fidelity Investments here Jan 11 and 12
- Los Alamos Bus System seeking your comments
and suggestions
- 47th Annual Western Spectroscopy Association
Conference
- 'Rover' reunion number 5
- ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE) beginners
class forming
|
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