New Mexico senator
praises Lab for its accomplishments
The past year was a difficult one for the nation's nuclear weapons laboratories, including Los Alamos, according to Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M. Amid allegations of espionage and questions about lax security, the labs were "under a microscope," the butt of many late-night television jokes and subject to much "over-reaction in Congress."
But in a wide-ranging talk in the Administration Building Auditorium Thursday, Domenici also lauded Los Alamos for its accomplishments, including milestones in proton radiography, the Dual Axis Radiographic Hydrodynamic Test facility, the Joint Genome Institute and the seven R&D 100 awards the Lab earned last year.
Domenici's hour-long talk touched on myriad commissions, studies and reports done on the labs in the wake of security concerns and espionage allegations, the science-based stockpile stewardship program, the Laboratory Directed Research and Development program and polygraph testing among other things.
Sporting a red and blue striped tie over a blue shirt and gray suit, Domenici prefaced his remarks about the national labs by talking about restoring pride in workers at the national labs. He brought to the talk two books he read recently: the biography of the legendary Green Bay Packers football coach Vince Lombardi, "When Pride Still Mattered," and a book about Winston Churchill.
Referring to the Lombardi book, Domenici said Lombardi preached that technique and talent wouldn't help win football games if the players weren't proud of their work. "This man put together all the qualities that make a football team the best ... he found that one way or another he would make them proud," said Domenici.
"I am very proud of what you do," Domenici told Laboratory employees and Department of Energy personnel. "It has not been one of those Lombardi years when [his teams] had no losses ... There has been insult from the outside that I'm sure has hurt you."
New Mexico's senior senator later said he is aware of the concerns of Los Alamos employees and wants to minimize the "negative impacts on the quality of [the Lab's] science programs wherever possible."
However, Domenici also said that questions about security and alleged espionage at the national labs were a wake up call for Congress and lab employees that requires careful response.
"I know the vast majority of you have treated security and stockpile management with the utmost care," Domenici said. He also thanked employees -- many from foreign countries -- who have come to work at the national labs.
Domenici noted that the serious concerns by Congress to the espionage allegations has had some positive result -- chiefly a Congress better educated about the nuclear weapons programs and what the national labs do. "That should help in future discussions about these programs," he said.
Domenici said he will work in Congress to restore funding for the LDRD program and that he disagrees with colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives who view the LDRD program as a "slush" fund. He recalled LDRD funding at the national labs was at one time 15 percent of the labs' budgets. "I'll work to try to restore the 6 percent level in next year's budget, but it will be very difficult," Domenici said.
"It will help if lab scientists identify and carefully communicate their best examples of successful LDRD projects."
Alluding to polygraph testing, Domenici said he is pleased Energy Secretary Bill Richardson has scaled back his plan to require large-scale testing. He also said he will work with Congress to try to further reduce polygraph testing for employees in the Personnel Security Assurance Program.
Domenici briefly discussed the new National Nuclear Security Administration and noted that he believes it will allow lab scientists the opportunity to do their "very best work in support of national missions."
In response to an audience question, Domenici later added that language in the law creating the agency states that Los Alamos and the other two nuclear weapons labs shall remain multipurpose. "The whole purpose of this semi-autonomous agency is to see if we can streamline the management operations and day-to-day operations of the nuclear weapons part," the senator said.
During a brief question-and-answer session, Domenici said he'd like to see the University of California continue to operate Los Alamos for the DOE. The university has operated Los Alamos since its wartime creation in 1943.
Regarding Congress' rejection last fall of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, Domenici said the vote isn't a harbinger of change to the United States' position on nuclear weapons testing. He said the United States will continue to abide by the ban on all nuclear weapons testing.
On the recently imposed travel restrictions, Domenici said the time might be now for an analysis of how the restrictions are affecting the national labs and scientists. "What we've done is not too smart ... I think it came on the rush end of this espionage thing," he said.
--Steve Sandoval
Editor's note: More information on Sen. Pete Domenici's visit to Los Alamos can be found in a news release issued by Domenici's office.
U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., seated left on steps of the Administration Building Auditorium stage, spoke briefly with news media reporters after talking to employees Thursday morning about a number of issues. Holding camera center is Santa Fe New Mexican photographer Clyde Mueller. Also shown, right to left in front, are Ian Hoffman of the Albuquerque Journal, Danica Tutush of the Los Alamos Monitor and Kristin Davenport of the New Mexican. Behind Davenport is Pete Lyons of Domenici's staff. Photo by LeRoy N. Sanchez
Six divisions/JCNNM recognized for implementing
Electrical Safety Program
Six Laboratory divisions and a subcontractor were recognized by Deputy Director for Laboratory Operations Dick Burick for their achievements in implementing the Laboratory's Electrical Safety Program at an all-managers meeting Monday.
Facility and Waste Operations (FWO), Nonproliferation and International Security (NIS) and Technology and Safety Assessment (TSA) divisions, and Johnson Controls Northern New Mexico received certificates of excellence for demonstrating a high level of implementation of the Laboratory's Electrical Safety Program in fiscal year 1999.
NIS Division was recognized for sustaining this high level of implementation for two years, 1998 and 1999.
Recognized for significant improvement in implementation of the Electrical Safety Program were Earth and Environmental Sciences (EES) and Environment, Safety and Health (ESH) divisions.
In 1997, the Electrical Safety Committee was chartered by then Laboratory Director Sig Hecker in accordance with LIR 402-600-01. One provision of the charter is that the committee conduct periodic audits and report to the director on the effectiveness of the Laboratory's Electrical Safety Program. The committee conducted the second annual assessment of the program in June 1999.
All divisions with electrical workers were required to complete a self-assessment, according to ESC Chair David Powell. Award recipients were rated in 10 categories and the four organizations that received certificates of excellence had exemplary or good performance in every category.
"Electrical safety impacts a large portion of our workforce," said Powell. "There are about 3,000 electrical workers at the Laboratory, approximately 1,000 of them doing energized electrical work."
ESC members represent a cross-section of Laboratory workers from organizations that do electrical work, as well as representatives from the Department of Energy's Albuquerque Office and a JCNNM employee representing the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.
To learn more about the Laboratory's Electrical Safety Program, log on to their Web site at http://drambuie.lanl.gov/~electric/ or contact Powell at 7-3217.
--Fran L. Talley
Coloquium with mental health chief cancelled
The Director's Colloquium with Leslie Ungerleider, head of the Laboratory of Brain and Cognition at the National Institute of Mental Health in Bethesda, Md., scheduled for Tuesday has been cancelled.
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Director of UNM African American Studies Program spoke Thursday at the Lab Shaime Okunor, director of the African American Studies Program at the University of New Mexico, spoke Thursday in the Jemez Room of the J. Robert Oppenheimer Study Center to mark the Laboratory's observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Okunor's talk was sponsored by the African American Diversity Working Group and the Diversity (DV) Office. Okunor also pastors at the African Methodist Episcopal Church in Gallup. The Laboratory is closed Monday in observance of the federal Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. Photo by Liz Padilla |
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