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With shutdown looming, DOE expects to keep operating for now

Posted at 12:45 pm September 30, 2013
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

U.S. Department of Energy Forrestal Building

With a potential government shutdown looming, U.S. Department of Energy employees are expected to continue working unless there is a lapse in appropriations and all available money is spent. Pictured above is DOE’s Forrestal Building in Washington, D.C. (Photo courtesy DOE)

Although a federal government shutdown is looming, the U.S. Department of Energy expects federal employees to continue reporting for work unless there is a lapse in appropriations and all available money is spent.

“Each component of DOE will continue to operate until prior year balances for funding of federal employees is exhausted,” DOE said in a guide posted on its website. “Their operations under those circumstances will be somewhat modified. For example, travel will generally be curtailed. DOE has some limited transfer and reprogramming authority, which may enable DOE to extend the number of days of funding available in some limited cases.”

The guide said operations will stop once prior-year balances have been spent at most DOE facilities. There would be exceptions for functions related to the safety of human life and protection of property. [Read more…]

Filed Under: East Tennessee Technology Park, Federal, Government, National Nuclear Security Administration, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge Office, Office of Scientific and Technical Information, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy, Y-12 National Security Complex Tagged With: appropriations, Barack Obama, Congress, Democrats, DOE, federal employees, funding, furloughs, government shutdown, health care law, House, medical isotope, National Nuclear Security Administration, naval reactors, non-proliferation, nuclear weapons, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, ORNL, Republicans, Senate, shutdown, Thom Mason, U.S. Department of Energy, UT-Battelle

ORNL employees to work Tuesday even if federal government shuts down

Posted at 2:01 pm September 27, 2013
By John Huotari 3 Comments

Thom Mason

Thom Mason

It’s still not clear if Congress will pass a budget and keep the government open past midnight Monday, but UT-Battelle employees should report to work Tuesday even if the government shuts down, Oak Ridge National Laboratory Director Thom Mason said.

Mason addressed the potential government shutdown in a message on staff cuts that he sent to employees Thursday morning.

Mason said ORNL has enough funding to continue operations even if federal employees have to stop work on Oct. 1. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Federal, Government, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Top Stories Tagged With: Barack Obama, budget, government, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, ORNL, spending bill, Thom Mason

Fiscal prudence requires ORNL to prepare for smaller budgets, director says

Posted at 5:14 pm September 26, 2013
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Thom Mason

Thom Mason

Many budget questions remain unresolved heading into the fiscal year that starts Oct. 1 and there could be another $100 million drop in funding, so Oak Ridge National Laboratory is implementing plans to further reduce overhead spending and opening a voluntary separation program that could reduce the workforce by up to 475 jobs, Director Thom Mason said Thursday.

Employees can apply for the Voluntary Separation Program, or VSP, from Oct. 1 to Nov. 14. Those employees who are accepted will leave the payroll by Dec. 31.

Lab officials emphasized that they hope the number of staff cuts is smaller than 475. ORNL has about 4,400 to 4,500 employees. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Federal, Government, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: budget, fiscal prudence, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, ORNL, Thom Mason, workforce reduction

ORNL could trim staff by up to 475, but officials hope for fewer cuts

Posted at 3:24 pm September 26, 2013
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge National Laboratory Central Campus

The Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s central campus is pictured above. (Courtesy of Oak Ridge National Laboratory/U.S. Department of Energy)

With the federal budget under pressure, Oak Ridge National Laboratory has permission to reduce its staff by up to 475 employees, but officials hope they don’t have to make that many cuts.

The workforce reduction could come through what is known as a voluntary separation program, or VSP. Those who apply and are accepted would leave the payroll Dec. 31, ORNL Communications Director David Keim said Thursday.

Keim said the lab had to ask the U.S. Department of Energy for permission to make the cuts, and ORNL sought the highest number of possible reductions. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: budget, budget debate, David Keim, DOE, employee, Fiscal Year 2014, layoffs, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Office of Science, ORNL, overhead, reduction, U.S. Department of Energy, UT-Battelle, voluntary separation program, VSP, workforce reduction

UT receives DOE funds, ORNL help for spent nuclear fuel studies

Posted at 10:05 am September 26, 2013
By University of Tennessee Leave a Comment

KNOXVILLE—The question of what to do with spent nuclear fuel in the U.S. has never been definitively answered. A University of Tennessee in Knoxville professor has received funding from the U.S. Department of Energy to develop new capabilities for evaluating potential alternatives to directly disposing of used fuel.

The award is part of the DOE’s 2013 Nuclear Energy University Programs which is awarding $42 million to 38 American universities and colleges for nuclear energy research and development projects focused on developing innovative solutions.

A proposal by Steven Skutnik, assistant professor in nuclear engineering, was awarded $755,000 to develop new capabilities for a fuel cycle simulator called CYCLUS by building on an Oak Ridge National Laboratory software package for nuclear fuel modeling called ORIGEN. [Read more…]

Filed Under: College, Education, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Science, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: CYCLUS, flexible reactor analysis module, National Nuclear Laboratory, NEUP, Nuclear Energy, Nuclear Energy University Programs, nuclear engineering, nuclear fuel, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, ORIGEN, ORNL, reactor, research and development, software, spent nuclear fuel, Steven Skutnik, University of Tennessee, used fuel, UT, waste, Yucca Mountain

Professor to discuss embryos; ‘troubled ground’ between science, society

Posted at 7:00 am September 24, 2013
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Jane Maienschein

Jane Maienschein

The 16th Annual Dick Smyser Community Lecture Series on Thursday, Oct. 3, will feature Professor Jane Maienschein, director of the Center for Biology and Society at Arizona State University.

She will give a talk titled “Embryos Under the Microscope: Negotiating Contested Ground Between Science and Society.”

The event is sponsored by Friends of ORNL. It is free of charge and will be held at the American Museum of Science and Energy at 300 S. Tulane Ave. in Oak Ridge. [Read more…]

Filed Under: College, Community, Education, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Top Stories Tagged With: American Museum of Science and Energy, Arizona State University, Center for Biology and Society, developmental biology, Dick Smyser Community Lecture Series, embryo, Embryos Under the Microscope: Negotiating Contested Ground Between Science and Society, fetus, Friends of ORNL, Jane Maienschein, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, ORNL

ORNL, UT receive Energy Department awards for nuclear training, technologies

Posted at 7:00 am September 23, 2013
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

The U.S. Department of Energy on Friday announced more than $60 million in nuclear energy research awards and improvements to university research reactors and infrastructure, including about $1.5 million to Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the University of Tennessee.

The 91 awards are meant to help train and educate the next generation of leaders in America’s nuclear industry as well as support new and advanced nuclear technologies from reactor materials to innovative sensors and instruments to more efficient manufacturing, DOE said in a press release. [Read more…]

Filed Under: College, Education, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: Barack Obama, DOE, Ernest Moniz, NEUP, Nuclear Energy, Nuclear Energy University Programs, nuclear industry, nuclear technologies, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, ORNL, research award, research reactors, training, U.S. Department of Energy, University of Tennessee, UT

ORNL: Toxic methylmercury-producing microbes more widespread than realized

Posted at 12:18 pm September 13, 2013
By Oak Ridge National Laboratory Leave a Comment

Microbes that live in rice paddies, northern peat bogs, and other previously unexpected environments are among the bacteria that can generate highly toxic methylmercury, researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center have learned.

This finding, published in Environmental Science and Technology, explains why deadly methylated mercury is produced in areas where the neurotoxin’s presence has puzzled researchers for decades. Methylmercury—the most dangerous form of mercury—damages the brain and immune system and is especially harmful to developing embryos. Certain bacteria transform inorganic mercury into toxic methylmercury. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Science, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: Alex Johs, Allyson Bullock, Andrew Graham, Anil Somenahally, bacteria, Biosciences Division, Cindy Gilmour, Dwayne Elias, Environmental Science and Technology, Grinnell College, Kathryn Bailey, mercury, Mercury methylation by novel microbes from new environments, methlyated mercury, methylmercury, microbes, Mircea Podar, National Science Foundation, neurotoxin, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Office of Science, ORNL, Richard Hurt, Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, Smithsonian Postdoctoral Fellowship Program, Steven Brown, toxic, U.S. Department of Energy

NSPS names new general manager of DOE protective forces

Posted at 10:00 am September 9, 2013
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Michael Voce

Michael Voce

National Strategic Protective Services LLC, the security contractor for U.S. Department of Energy facilities in Oak Ridge, has a new general manager who will start Oct. 1.

Michael Voce will replace general manager Greg McDowell, whose resignation was announced in July.

NSPS, a joint venture of Triple Canopy Inc. and Securiguard Inc., provides protective force services to the East Tennessee Technology Park, the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and the Joe L. Evins Federal Building. [Read more…]

Filed Under: East Tennessee Technology Park, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge Office, Office of Scientific and Technical Information, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: DOE, East Tennessee Technology Park, ETTP, Greg McDowell, Ignacio Balderas, Joe L. Evins Federal Building, National Nuclear Security Administration, National Strategic Protective Services LLC, Nevada Site Office, NNSA, NSO, NSPS, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge Office, Oak Ridge Reservation, ORNL, Protection Strategies Inc., Securiguard Inc., security contractor, Triple Canopy Inc., U.S. Department of Energy, WSI Oak Ridge

ORAU names associate director of scientific, technical resource integration

Posted at 2:46 pm September 3, 2013
By Oak Ridge Associated Universities Leave a Comment

David Duncan

David Duncan

Oak Ridge Associated Universities has appointed David Duncan as associate director of its scientific and technical resource integration program.

In his new role, Duncan is responsible for managing research peer review activities that coordinate the use of independent, expert reviewers to evaluate proposals and scientific and technical information for a variety of federal and state funding agencies. Additionally, he is responsible for identifying viable options for new business development and for establishing and developing business networks and partnerships. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Oak Ridge Associated Universities, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy, Uncategorized Tagged With: Andy Page, associate director, business development, David Duncan, industrial hygienist, Oak Ridge Associated Universities, Oak Ridge Gaseous Diffusion Plant, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, ORAU, ORNL, peer review, PrSM Corp., scientific and technical resource integration, Strata-G, The ConneXions Group

Lecture next week focuses on IAEA training program hosted at ORNL

Posted at 10:00 pm September 2, 2013
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Michael Whitaker

Michael Whitaker

A lunchtime lecture next week will feature a discussion of a recent International Atomic Energy Agency training program that was hosted at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

Michael Whitaker, group leader of the ORNL International Safeguards Group in the Nuclear Security and Isotope Technology Division, will lead the presentation.

The IAEA training program was for more than 40 nuclear safeguards professionals and regulatory officials representing more than 30 nations. They spent two weeks at ORNL to expand their knowledge for conducting their vital work around the world, a press release said. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: Friends of ORNL, IAEA, International Atomic Energy Agency, International Safeguards Group, Michael Whitaker, nuclear safeguards, Nuclear Security and Isotope Technology Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, ORNL, training, University of Tennessee Resource Center

ORNL-grown oxygen ‘sponge’ presents path to better catalysts, energy materials

Posted at 7:30 am August 29, 2013
By Oak Ridge National Laboratory Leave a Comment

ORNL Oxygen Sponge

This schematic depicts a new ORNL-developed material that can easily absorb or shed oxygen atoms. (Photo courtesy ORNL)

Scientists at Oak Ridge National Laboratory have developed a new oxygen “sponge” that can easily absorb or shed oxygen atoms at low temperatures. Materials with these novel characteristics would be useful in devices such as rechargeable batteries, sensors, gas converters, and fuel cells.

Materials containing atoms that can switch back and forth between multiple oxidation states are technologically important but very rare in nature, said ORNL’s Ho Nyung Lee, who led the international research team that published its findings in Nature Materials. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Science, Top Stories Tagged With: Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Laboratory, brownmillerite, Center for Nanophase Materials Science, Chad Folkman, Dillon Fong, Dongwon Shin, Hiromichi Ohta, Ho Nyung Lee, Hokkaido University, Hyoungjeen Jeen, I-Cheng Tung, John Freeland, Matthew Chisholm, Michael Biegalski, Nanoscale Science Research Centers, Nature Materials, NSRC, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Office of Science, ORNL, oxidation, oxygen atoms, oxygen sponge, perovskite, redox, reduction-oxidation, Reversible redox reactions in an epitaxially stabilized SrCoOx oxygen sponge, strontium cobaltite, U.S. Department of Energy, Woo Seok Choi

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