National Laboratory

Robert Powell Appointed to LANS and LLNS Boards of Governors

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Robert Powell

LANL News:

Norman J. Pattiz, chairman of Los Alamos National Security, LLC (LANS) and Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC (LLNS) Boards of Governors, today announced that Robert Powell has been appointed by the regents of the University of California (UC) as an executive committee governor on the LANS and LLNS Boards of Governors, replacing William Frazer.

Powell also will chair the LLCs’ Science and Technology (S&T) Committee. His appointments take effect immediately.

“Bob is highly respected by the UC regents and President Janet Napolitano as a senior academic

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WIPP Personnel Upgrading Safety Programs

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WIPP News:

While attention is focused on determining the cause of the February radiological release, WIPP personnel are also upgrading WIPP safety programs and addressing issues identified by federal accident investigators following the fire and radiological event.

Experts from across the DOE complex and nuclear industry are on-site to evaluate and help improve WIPP safety, emergency management and radiological programs.

A corrective action plan for the salt haul truck fire is in development and improvements to emergency response plans are being implemented. WIPP Operations personnel Read More

Regional Coalition of LANL Communities Hosts Strategic Planning Meeting Friday

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RCLC News:

The Regional Coalition of LANL Communities is hosting a Strategic Planning Meeting 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.,  Friday, May 16 at the Santa Fe Convention Center, Kearney Room, 201 W. Marcy St. in Santa Fe.

Those who regularly attend Coalition meetings because of their professional involvement in the region’s environmental remediation efforts, economic development and/or education efforts, are encouraged to attend Friday’s 

strategic planning session. RSVP to cabral@regionalcoalition.org by Wednesday, May 14, if you plan on having lunch.

Planning Session Read More

Dr. Steven Croley Confirmed as DOE General Counsel

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Dr. Steven Croley. Courtesy/wikipedia

DOE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Dr. Steven Croley was confirmed by the Senate Monday as the Department of Energy’s General Counsel.

“Dr. Croley brings to the Department leadership team both extensive experience representing the interests of the United States and wide-ranging interests in energy and environmental issues,” Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz said. “I thank the Senate for approving his nomination, and I look forward to his advice and counsel. I also thank Anne Harkavy for serving as Acting General Counsel in his stead. Her leadership Read More

Latest Underground Entry Reveals More Information About Event

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Photo from a townhall slide show presentation of the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant. Courtesy/WIPP

WIPP News:

Workers entered the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) underground facility again Saturday to further investigate Room 7 of Panel 7, the suspected scene for the Feb. 14 radiological event.

Using a portable camera on an extender, workers were able to take pictures over the top of stacked waste containers. The photographs showed evidence of melted plastic and rubber on 55-gallon drums and standard waste boxes, indicating the production of heat likely occurred in the room. Photos are Read More

Los Alamos County Officials Meet in Washington with Key Congressional and Federal Leaders

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From left, Councilor Pete Sheehey, Chair Geoff Rodgers, Sen. Martin Heinrich, Vice-Chair Kristin Henderson, and County Administrator Harry Burgess. Courtesy photo

COUNTY News:

Los Alamos County officials commented today on their April 30-May 2 visit to Washington, D.C., to meet with key congressional and federal leaders.

Council Chair Geoff Rodgers, Vice-Chair Kristin Henderson, Councilor Pete Sheehey and County Administrator Harry Burgess represented the County in a number of meetings.

“Visiting one on one with our congressional delegation about the issues that are important Read More

NNSA Administrator, Three Lab Directors Including Charlie McMillan Tour Key Weapons Facility

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NNSA’s Gen. Frank G. Klotz

NNSA News:

The Administrator of the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Gen. Frank G. Klotz, and the directors of Los Alamos, Sandia Lawrence Livermore national laboratories met today in Albuquerque, N.M., and toured a recently-completed facility at Sandia designed to ensure the continued stewardship of the U.S. nuclear deterrent without underground testing.

Test Capabilities Revitalization Phase 2 (TCR 2), a project that had previously been announced as delivered on-time and under-budget, conducts environmental testing on nuclear Read More

LANL Researcher Joel Rowland to Receive DOE Early Career Award

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LANL Researcher Joel Rowland

LANL News:

  • Joel Rowland’s Research focuses on land surface dynamics in Arctic environments

Los Alamos National Laboratory researcher Joel Rowland is one of 35 national recipients of 2014 Early Career Research Program awards from the Department of Energy. Rowland’s research was recognized by DOE’s Office of Biological and Environmental Research for incorporating hydrological controls on carbon cycling in flood plain ecosystems into Earth System Models (ESM).

“The DOE Early Career Research Award represents both a significant honor and a tremendous Read More

Santa Fe Institute Hosts Seminar on Behavioral Biology

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Karoline Weisner

SFI News:

The Santa Fe Institute will host a seminar featuring Karoline Weisner, Ph.D., speaking on the topic of “Studying Biology with Quantum Occam’s Razor.” The seminar is scheduled for 12:15 p.m. Wednesday, May 7 in the Noyce Conference Room at 1399 Hyde Park Road in Santa Fe.

Weisner will address the limitations of various approaches to biological systems, and outline current research in the area of behavioral biology. She is a Senior Lecturer/Associate Professor at the School of Mathematics, University of Bristol, England, and author of several articles on quantum Read More

Hopeful News on Manhattan Project National Historical Park Act

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Rep. Doc Hastings

AHF News:

The Atomic Heritage Foundation (AHF) reports that April 30, the Manhattan Project National Historical Park Act was included as an amendment to the House FY 2015 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The House Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness added the amendment. 

The full House will probably consider the NDAA during the week of May 19. The Senate is expected to consider the NDAA in the fall, probably after the Congressional elections.

Last year, the Senate dropped the amendment over lack of agreement on what additional public lands bills might Read More