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News Digest Items - 2003
Last updated January 05, 2004
- Oak Ridge Makes Last Shipment of Spent Nuclear Fuel -- On December 17, The last remnant of spent nuclear fuel at ORNL has been shipped to INEEL, where it will be stored until a method of final disposal becomes available. The shipment was the last of five in support of efforts to consolidate all the spent fuels from across the Department of Energy complex in regional locations in Idaho and South Carolina. [Oak Ridge Release]
- INEEL Begins Excavation at Pit 9 Demonstration Facility -- On December 15, INEEL announced that excavation began on Dec. 12 at the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory's Pit 9, with the removal of clean topsoil using the Glovebox Excavator Method. Retrieval of contaminated waste from Pit 9 is scheduled to begin in January 2004. [INEEL Release]
- Interim Final Rule for Conditional Payment of Fee clause -- On December 10, the interim final rule amending the Department of Energy Acquisition Regulations (DEAR) was published in the Federal Register to revise the current conditional payment of fee clause, 48 CFR 970.5215-3 Conditional Payment of Fee, Profit, or Incentives. This DEAR clause is included in Board's list of "Orders of Interest to the Board." The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for this interim final rule was issued on February 1, 2001. [PDF]
- Board Announces Public Meeting for December 16, 2003
- DOE Establishes Office of Security and Safety Performance Assurance for Effective Implementation of Safeguards & Security Policies -- On December 04, Spencer Abraham announced the establishment of the new Office of Security and Safety Performance Assurance. The security, safety and oversight team will work closely with all DOE and the NNSA line management staff to implement safeguards and security policies, ensuring effective programs to further protect DOE’s weapons labs and other national security assets and will report directly to the Secretary of Energy.
[DOE Release]
- Board Announces Public Meetings for December 3 and 4
- On October 23, DNFSB held Public Meeting on Lessons Learned from Columbia Accident Investigation
- On October 21, DNFSB held Public Meeting on DOE Safety Oversight
- DOE Awards Contract to Convert Defense Legacy Material into Weapon Against Cancer -- On October 09, Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham announced that the DOE will award a contract to Isotek Systems, LLC, in Oak Ridge, Tenn., to down blend enriched uranium-233 and extract isotopes that show great promise in the treatment of deadly cancers. [DOE News Release]
- The Department has Finalized and Issued the Strategic Plan for 2003 -- On September 30, The Department has released a Strategic Plan to chart the course for the next 25 years – by focusing our capabilities to meet today’s needs and tomorrow’s challenges. [DOE Press Release]
- CH2M Hill Hanford Group Fined For Nuclear Safety Violations -- On September 12, the Department of Energy announced that it issued a proposed civil penalty of $82,500 to CH2M Hill Hanford Group tank farms contractor at the Hanford site, for violations of nuclear safety requirements. The violations did not result in actual harm to workers or the environment.
[DOE Press Release]
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) Cited for Price Anderson Violation -- On September 11, NNSA issued a Preliminary Notice of Violation to the University of California, the contractor for the LLNL for the overexposure of a worker’s hands to radiation and for the violation of various work procedures. [NNSA Press Release]
- DNFSB Board Holds First Public Meeting on Oversight -- On September 10, the Board held a public meeting on oversight. This is the first in a series of meetings. A web broadcast and speaker presentations given are attached.
[Public Meeting on Oversight]
- Y-12 National Security Complex Starts Construction of Purification Facility -- On August 20, the management of Y-12 announced that ground was broken for a new special materials facility at the complex. The facility will provide a purification process for the manufacturing of non-nuclear, special materials needed to support future Y-12's Stockpile Life-Extension Program missions. [Y-12 Press Release]
- Rocky Flats Weapons Complex Now Free Of Nuclear Weapons Usable Material
-- On August 19, Secretary Abraham announced that the Department of Energy has completed the the departure of the final shipment of nuclear weapons-usable material from the Rocky Flats weapons facility. The site is now scheduled to be cleaned and closed in 2006. [DOE Press Release]
- Recommendation 97-2, Continuation of Criticality Safety at Defense Nuclear Facilities in the Department of Energy, Closed -- On August 07, the Board closed Recommendation 97-2. Although the actions of the implementation plan have been accomplished, the Board established an annual reporting requirement on the status of DOE’s Nuclear Criticality Safety Program. The first annual report will be due within 1 month of the close of this calendar year. [PDF]
- Board announces a Public Meeting on DOE's current oversight and management of contracts and contractors. -- On August 01, the Board announced a public meeting will be held on September 10, 2003 at 9:00 A.M. at the Board's Public Hearing Room in Washington, D.C. [PDF]
- "Weapons Into Plowshares" at Savannah River Site -- On July 21, NNSA and the Savannah River Site announced the beginning of a major milestone in the High Enriched Uranium (HEU) Blend Down Program. The HEU Blend Down Program takes HEU, a weapons-usable form of uranium, and blends it with natural uranium to make Low Enriched Uranium (LEU), which cannot be used in weapons. The LEU will be adapted to help supply the nation’s energy needs. [DOE Press Release]
- Reduction in Force at Rocky Flats -- On July 16, Gene Schmitt, Rocky Flats Field Office Manager, announced that the DOE has initiated steps to reduce the federal workforce. Outplacement opportunities to minimize the number of employees impacted through an involuntary separation are being sought. [PDF]
- NNSA Announces Security Initiatives for Weapons Laboratories -- On July 08, NNSA Administrator Linton Brooks announced a five-part initiative to reinforce current safeguards and security oversight and strengthen long-term security operations in the nuclear weapons complex. Although the initiative came in response to problems at the weapons laboratories, it will cover the entire NNSA weapons complex to ensure similar problems do not develop elsewhere.
[PDF]
- 2002-3 Implementation Plan Delivered to Board -- On June 26, the Secretary signed the implementation plan for the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board's Recommendation 2002-3, Requirements for the Design, Implementation, and Maintenance of Administrative Controls . The recommendation was received on December 11, 2002. [Implementation Plan]
- Hanford Tanks Connected to Treatment Site -- On June 12, the Office of River Protection announced that the last of the piping between large radioactive waste storage tanks has been connected to the
site of a treatment plant under construction at Hanford.
[ORP Press Release]
- 2002-2 Implementation Plan Delivered to Board -- On June 04, the Secretary signed the implementation plan for the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board's Recommendation 2002-2, Department of Energy Plan to Address and Resolve Weapons Laboratory Support of the Defense Nuclear Complex. The recommendation was received on October 3, 2002. [Implementation Plan]
- Reorganization of Environmental Management Headquarters Organization Announced -- On May 19, Jessie Roberson, the Department of Energy's Assistant Secretary for Environmental Management announced the approval of a new framework for EM Headquarters. The new organization supports and facilitates the Top-to-Bottom Review objectives of accelerating risk reduction and clean up and improving organizational effectiveness. [DOE Press Release]
- Linton Brooks Sworn in as NNSA Administrator
-- On May 16, Spencer Abraham administered the oath of office to Ambassador Linton F. Brooks to be the administrator of the NNSA and the undersecretary of energy for nuclear security. The President nominated Brooks to be administrator on February 4, 2003, and he was confirmed by the Senate on May 1.
[DOE Press Release]
- Robert F. Warther Named Manager, Ohio Field Office -- On May 09, The Department of Energy announced the appointment of Robert F. Warther, P.E., to the position of Manager of the Ohio Field Office in Miamisburg, Ohio. He will be responsible for the management of site closure activities at the Ohio closure projects, including Fernald, Miamisburg, Ashtabula, and Columbus, as well as the West Valley Demonstration Project.
[DOE Press Release]
- DR is the New Office Designation for the Office of the Departmental Representative to the DNFSB. -- On May 02, Secretary Abraham established the Office of the Departmental Representative to the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board as a direct report to the Office of the Secretary. [PDF]
- Changes to Cleanup Work at INEEL's Test Area North Announced -- On April 25, the DOE, Idaho Department of Environmental Quality and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency have released an explanation of significant differences document outlining changes to some of the remedies selected in the 1999 Record of Decision for cleanup sites at INEEL. [INEEL Press Release]
- Paul Morgan Longsworth to be nominated as Deputy Administrator for Defense Nuclear Non-Proliferation in the National Nuclear Security Administration. -- On April 25, the President announced his intention to nominate Paul Morgan Longsworth, to be Deputy Administrator for Defense Nuclear Non-Proliferation in the National Nuclear Security Administration. He currently serves as Senior Policy Advisor to the Secretary for the DOE. [White House Press Release]
- NNSA Moves Ahead with Plutonium Disposition Program -- On April 24, the National Nuclear Security Administration issued an Amended Record of Decision today stating that it will move forward with its previously proposed strategy of fabricating approximately 6.5 metric tons of surplus U.S. weapon-grade plutonium previously intended for immobilization into mixed oxide (MOX) fuel at the Savannah River Site.
[NNSA Press Release]
- Stephen McCracken Named as Assistant Manager Environmental Management at Oak Ridge -- On April 22, the DOE announced the selection of Stephen McCracken for the position of Assistant Manager for Environmental Management at the Oak Ridge Operations Office. He will be responsible for the oversight and direction of contractor and federal activities associated with accelerating risk reduction and cleanup at sites on the Oak Ridge Reservation. [Oak Ridge Press Release]
- R. Bruce Matthews Appointed to be a Member of the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board -- On April 22, the President signed the recess appointment of R. Bruce Matthews of New Mexico to be a Member of the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board, for the remainder of a five-year term expiring October 18, 2005. The President nominated Mr. Matthews on May 8, 2002 and again on January 9, 2003. [White House Press Release]
- Los Alamos National Laboratory Cited for Price Anderson Violations
-- On April 18, the National Nuclear Security Administration issued a Preliminary Notice of Violation (POV) to the University of California, the contractor for the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), for violations of nuclear safety rules and procedures involving the inadequate handling of plutonium contaminated piping, ineffective personnel controls during radiography operations, failure to operate experimental equipment in accordance with safety requirements, and inadequate cleaning of laboratory systems to prevent buildup of potentially hazardous material. The POV also documents the failure of LANL to ensure that previously identified work control problems were effectively identified, controlled and corrected. [NNSA Press Release]
- Departmental Representive Office member, Theodore (Ted) Wyka, who also serves in the Naval Reserves, has been selected for promotion to the rank of Navy Captain -- On April 11, Hansford T. Johnson, Acting Secretary of othe Navy, announced the selection of Ted Wyka to Navy Captain. In addition, DNFSB staff members Matthew (Matt) Moury and Robert (Bob) Rosen and Richard (Chip) Lagdon (EH-21) were selected for promotion to captain. [Secretary of the Navy Message]
- Hanford Site Starts Waste Pumping on First Tank Targeted for Closure -- On April 02, the Office of River Protection announced that crews have begun removing radioactive waste from Tank C-106. Built in 1943, C-106 was one of the first large tanks constructed at Hanford. [ORP Press Release]
- Elizabeth Sellers Named Manager of Idaho Operations Office
-- On March 27, the DOE named Elizabeth D. Sellers as the new manager of the Department's Idaho Operations Office effective April 1, 2003. She will report to the Office of Nuclear Energy, Science and Technology and will oversee the activities of 5,900 federal and contractor staff.
[DOE Press Release]
- Jeffrey M. Allison Named Manager of Savannah River Operations Office
-- On March 25, the DOE announced the appointment of Jeffrey M. Allison to the position of Manager of the Savannah River Operations Office. He will be responsible for the overall leadership, direction, contract management, and oversight of all contractor and Federal activities associated with the EM risk reduction and clean-up mission performed at the Savannah River Site.
[DOE Press Release]
- Restructuring and Streamling of Management at Oak Ridge -- On March 24, Oak Ridge Operations Manager Gerald Boyd announced the reassignment of George Malosh to Deputy Manager for Laboratory Operations and Robert Brown to Chief Operating Officer effective immediately. In addition, three key management positions at Oak Ridge Operations have been abolished as part of their management restructure. [DOE Press Release]
- 2002-1 Implementation Plan Delivered to Board -- On March 13, the Secretary signed the implementation plan for the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board's Recommendation 2002-1, Quality Assurance for Safey Related Software. The recommendation was received on September 23, 2002. [Implementation Plan]
- Washington State Sues DOE Over Transuranic Waste -- On March 04, Washington filed a lawsuit Tuesday against the Department of Energy to stop them from sending radioactive transuranic wastes to Hanford. [Tri-City Hearld Story] [DOE Press Release]
- Board staff member Jay Deloach, who also serves in the Naval Reserves, has been nominated for appointment to the rank of Rear Admiral while serving as commanding officer, Naval Reserve, commander, SEVENTH Fleet Detachment 111, Fort Worth, Texas. -- On February 25, Secretary of Defense Donald R. Rumsfeld announced that the president nominated Jay Deloach for the appointment to the rank of Rear Admiral. [DOD Press Release]
- DOE To Seek Modifications To Bechtel Jacobs' Cleanup Contract for Oak Ridge -- On February 12, Assistant Secretary for Environmental Management Jessie Roberson announced that the Department will take steps to immediately transform its cleanup contract with Bechtel Jacobs Company, LLC, to a closure contract, thereby reflecting the Department's focus on accelerated cleanup. [DOE Press Release]
- Linton F. Brooks Nominated to serve as Under Secretary for Nuclear Security and Administrator for Nuclear Security at the NNSA -- On February 04, President Bush nominated Linton Brooks to serve in his administration. Brooks is currently the Acting Under Secretary for Nuclear Security and Deputy Administrator for Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation at the DOE. [White House Press Release]
- Department of Energy 2004 Budget Unveiled -- On February 03, Secretary Abraham released the DOE's $23.4 billion budget request to Congress. He stated this budget request demonstrates that the Administration and the Congress recognize the critical contribution the department makes to a peaceful and prosperous future by helping to secure our national security, our energy security and our position as the world leader in science and technology. [DOE Press Release]
- Fernald rail shipments on track for 2004 completion -- On January 17, Fernald announced the 75th train shipment of low-level radioactive material to a Utah disposal facility. Since since full-scale remediation began in 1999, Fernald has shipped over 480,000 of an estimated 790,000 tons of waste. [Fluor Fernald Press Release]
- R. Bruce Matthews renominated to the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board -- On January 09, President Bush sent his renomination of R. Bruce Matthews to the DNFSB to the Senate. [White House Release]
- Management Changes at Los Alamos National Laboratory -- On January 02, University of California President Richard C. Atkinson announced the resignation of Director John C. Browne. George P. “Pete” Nanos was named interim director. In addition, all administrative and business operations will report to Anne Broome, Vice President of Financial Management at the University of California Office of the President. [UC News Release]
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