National Laboratory

Cracked Lid of Nuclear Waste Container May Be Source of WIPP Radiation Leak

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Waste container photographed earlier this month at WIPP with its lid unsealed and apparent heat discoloration. Courtesy/WIPP

HSNW News:

The radiation leak at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) near Carlsbad has been linked to a waste container shipped from Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), raising questions about the safety of other containers stored at the lab’s northern New Mexico facility and at the Waste Control Specialists (WCS) site in Andrews, Texas.

As a precautionary measure, LANL has been ordered to remove thousands of similar containers filled with toxic waste from Read More

2014 Los Alamos Employees’ Scholarship Fund Recipients Share Dreams and Gratitude

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LANL Director Charles McMillan visits with Mesa Vista High School graduate Jeanette Varela who is the first in her family to attend college, and Pecos High School graduate Nicolette Gonzales, during Monday’s kick-off of the Los Alamos Laboratory Employee’s Scholarship Fund campaign. The students are among 73 winners of $419,500 awarded in 2014 scholarships. Photo by Richard C. Robinson/LANL

Los Alamos High School senior Alexandr Wang is one of two Gold Scholars. He will receive $20,000 over four years. Photo by Richard C. Robinson/LANL
 
Los Alamos High School senior Alexandra
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Secretary Moniz Announces Members to New Commission on National Labs

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Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz

DOE News:

  • Commission to Review the Effectiveness of the Energy Department’s National Laboratories

WASHINGTON – Today, Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz announced the Commission to Review the Effectiveness of the National Energy Laboratories, a congressionally-mandated committee that will evaluate the effectiveness of the Energy Department’s 17 national laboratories. The Commission is being established pursuant to the 2014 Consolidated Appropriations Act.

“The Energy Department’s national laboratories are a leading force in driving U.S. scientific Read More

Third Annual Discussion in the Chaos to Complexity Series May 31

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SFI News:

Santa Fe Institute (SFI) and the Museum of Contemporary Native Arts (MoCNA) present the third annual discussion in the Chaos to Complexity series.

SFI Professor and VP for Science Jennifer Dunne and Eastern Band of Cherokee artist Shan Goshorn will explore the creative process in both art and science, in a discussion moderated by SFI’s Valerie Plame.

The event is 2-4 p.m. Saturday, May 31 at MoCNA’s Allan Houser Art Park (108 Cathedral Place) in Santa Fe. The event is free with paid museum admission, but seating is limited.

Shan Goshorn is a concept-based artist. Her recent work incorporates Read More

LANL: Power Plant Emissions Verified Remotely at Four Corners Sites

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The Four Corners coal-fired power plant, near Farmington, is a major source of pollutants, with measurements confirmed by LANL researchers. Courtesy photo

Measurement devices in place near the Four Corners coal-fired power plant, allowing LANL researchers to analyze emissions. Courtesy photo

LANL News:

  • Space-based measurements can support Clean Air Act regulations

Air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions from two coal-fired power plants in the Four Corners area of northwest New Mexico, the largest point source of pollution in America, were measured remotely by a Los Alamos National Read More

LANL Employees/Community Invited to View PBS Documentary at Bradbury Science Museum June 4

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LANL/COMMUNITY News:

Join LANL Employee Assistance Program counselors as they host a showing of the PBS Documentary entitled, “The Misunderstood Epidemic: Depression” followed by discussion.

The event is 9-10:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 4 at the Bradbury Science Museum Auditorium and open to all LANL employees and adult members of the community. No registration is required.

“The Misunderstood Epidemic: Depression” is an intimate look at how depression affects its victims and their families. The film explores through firsthand accounts how depression can happen to anyone regardless of Read More

Absorbent Used in Kitty Litter May Be Cause of Radiation Leaks at WIPP

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Waste Isolation Pilot Plant. Courtesy WIPP

HSNW News:

A wheat-based absorbent often used in kitty litter may be the likely cause of the radiation leak that led to the closure of the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP), the U.S. only underground nuclear waste repository, according to Jim Conca, a former geochemist at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL).

Conca noted that EnergySolutions, a Salt Lake City-based company hired to package radioactive waste at LANL into containers for shipment to the WIPP, switched from using a clay-based absorbent in the storage drums to a wheat-based mixture. Read More

New Information Provided About Possible Contributor to WIPP Radiological Event

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The May 15 entry into Panel 7, Room 7 produced this photo of a waste container, left, with its lid unsealed and apparent heat discoloration. Courtesy/WIPP

WIPP News:

The Department of Energy issued the following statement Friday regarding new information generated during the May 15 entry into WIPP:

Since the Feb. 14 radiological release, the Department and its Waste Isolation Pilot Plant have been working deliberately to safely determine the cause of the release. The team that entered the underground facility yesterday was able to get additional visual evidence that shows a damaged waste Read More

Deputy Assistant Manager for Operations at the Los Alamos Field Office has Died

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NNSA News:

David George, a long-time National Nuclear Security Administration Los Alamos Field Office employee, passed away Thursday evening on the campus of the Los Alamos National Laboratory. 

He had completed an after-work exercise routine and appears to have succumbed while resting. Los Alamos County emergency personnel responded. 

George, who began in federal service as a student employee in 1976, was a talented, dedicated and highly respected colleague. He was serving as deputy assistant manager for operations at the Los Alamos Field Office at the time of his death. Read More

Science on Tap at The Manhattan Project Today

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BRADBURY News:

 

The Bradbury Science Museum will host “Science on Tap,” part of a new informal discussion series, at the Manhattan Project restaurant at 5:30 p.m. today, Thursday May 15.

 

Science on Tap is a great way to get out in the community and meet people with similar interests. The “On Tap” series is a new project from the Los Alamos Creative District and is held every Thursday with the themes “Nature on Tap” “History on Tap,” “Science on Tap” and “Art on Tap.” This event is the first “Science on Tap” discussion and will be held on every third Thursday of the month.

 

For this discussion, Read More