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Fleischmann to chair Congressional Nuclear Cleanup Caucus

Posted at 2:06 pm December 9, 2014
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Chuck Fleischmann and Mark Whitney

Pictured above are U.S. Representative Chuck Fleischmann, left, a Republican who represents Tennessee’s Third District, and Mark Whitney, acting assistant secretary for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Environmental Management. (Submitted photo)

 

WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Representative Chuck Fleischmann will lead the Nuclear Cleanup Caucus, a group of lawmakers who have U.S. Department of Energy cleanup sites in their districts. Fleischmann’s district includes Oak Ridge.

The congressman made the announcement at a Tuesday morning press conference in Washington, D.C.

Fleischmann is a Tennessee Republican who is taking over caucus leadership from Representative Doc Hastings, a Washington Republican who is retiring at the end of this term.

“It is a great honor to serve as Chairman of this important caucus,” Fleischmann said after the press conference. “It is an absolute necessity that we ensure the success of our nuclear cleanup missions, not only in East Tennessee, but at all cleanup sites throughout our nation. I am excited to lead this bipartisan group of legislators from across the country and look forward to the work ahead.”

“From my time at Oak Ridge, I know firsthand how passionate and knowledgeable Congressman Fleischmann is about the nuclear cleanup mission,” said Mark Whitney, the acting assistant secretary for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Environmental Management. “His deep understanding of the Office of Environmental Management’s mission and challenges make him an effective advocate as he leads the Cleanup Caucus into the future.”

Filed Under: Federal, Government, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: Chuck Fleischmann, cleanup sites, Doc Hastings, Mark Whitney, nuclear cleanup, Nuclear Cleanup Caucus, Office of Environmental Management, U.S. Department of Energy

Top BP scientist, university professor confirmed as director of DOE research agency

Posted at 7:48 pm December 8, 2014
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Ellen Williams

Ellen Williams (Photo courtesy Caltech Alumni Association)

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Ellen Williams was confirmed by the United States Senate on Monday, December 8, as the director of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy, or ARPA-E.

As director of ARPA-E, Williams will oversee a novel program that funds high-potential, high-impact energy technologies that are too early for private-sector investment, a DOE press release said. She will ensure that the technologies assisted through ARPA-E will help change the energy landscape and better meet the nation’s changing energy needs, the release said.

“ARPA-E is central to the Department’s advancement of energy technology innovation, and Ellen Williams will provide outstanding leadership based upon her combination of world class research in condensed matter physics and insight into how technology impacts the energy marketplace,” Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz said. “I’m excited to work with Ellen on expanding the scope and impact of ARPA-E. I also want to thank Cheryl Martin for her leadership in ARPA-E for the past two years.” [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy, ARPA-E, BP, Cheryl Martin, chief scientist, DOE, Ellen Williams, Ernest Moniz, U.S. Department of Energy, United States Senate, University of Maryland

U.S. House passes Manhattan Project park bill that includes Oak Ridge

Posted at 3:01 pm December 4, 2014
By John Huotari 2 Comments

U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander

Lamar Alexander

U.S. Representative Chuck Fleischmann

Chuck Fleischmann

Note: This story was last updated at 8:30 p.m.

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a bill that would create a Manhattan Project National Historical Park that would include Oak Ridge, federal officials said Thursday afternoon.

Passage of the bill, pursued for years by historic preservationists, was announced by U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander and Representative Chuck Fleischmann, both Tennessee Republicans. It was an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, which passed in a 300-119 vote.

The bill would designate three sites that were part of the World War II-era Manhattan Project. Besides Oak Ridge, the sites include Los Alamos, New Mexico, and Hanford, Washington. The U.S. Senate is expected to pass the 2015 NDAA legislation without amendments before adjourning for the Christmas recess, perhaps as early as next week, according to the Atomic Heritage Foundation, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit that has helped lead efforts to establish the park for more than a decade.

The Manhattan Project was a top-secret federal program to build the world’s first atomic bombs. Oak Ridge sites that would be included in the park are the Beta-3 racetracks and Alpha Calutron magnets at Y-12 National Security Complex and the K-25 Building site at the East Tennessee Technology Park. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Federal, Federal, Government, Slider, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: AHF, Alpha Calutron magnets, atomic bomb, Atomic Heritage Foundation, B Reactor, Ben Ray Lujan, Beta-3 racetracks, Bob Corker, Chuck Fleischmann, Cindy Kelly, D. Ray Smith, Doc Hastings, DOE, Don Barger, East Tennessee Technology Park, Energy Communities Alliance, Gary Petersen, Hanford, Heather McClenahan, historic preservation, historic properties, Interior, Jeff Bingaman, K-25 Building, Lamar Alexander, Los Alamos, Los Alamos Historical Society, Manhattan Project, Manhattan Project National Historical Park, Maria Cantwell, Martin Heinrich, National Defense Authorization Act, national park, National Park Service, National Parks Conservation Association, National Trust for Historic Preservation, NDAA, NPCA, Oak Ridge, Patty Murray, Pete Domenici, Stephanie Toothman, Tom Udall, Tri-City Development Council, U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. House, U.S. House of Representatives, U.S. Senate, World War II, Y-12 National Security Complex

Protesters object to benefits changes at Y-12

Posted at 2:37 pm December 4, 2014
By John Huotari 2 Comments

Y-12 Benefits Protest Becky Montgomery

Protesters object Thursday afternoon to changes to health insurance benefits announced at the Y-12 National Security Complex in October. At center is Becky Montgomery, who retired from Y-12 in June after 35 years.

 

Note: This story was last updated at 10 p.m.

About 150 demonstrators protested outside the Y-12 National Security Complex on Thursday afternoon, objecting to changes in health insurance benefits that could take effect January 1.

The protesters, mostly Y-12 retirees, said they would end up paying much more for fewer benefits. They want the U.S. Department of Energy and National Nuclear Security Administration to reverse course.

“We’re here to try to stop it,” said Charlene Edwards, who retired from Y-12 in 2006. [Read more…]

Filed Under: National Nuclear Security Administration, Slider, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy, Y-12, Y-12 National Security Complex Tagged With: Ann Walden, Becky Montgomery, benefits, Betty Hatmaker, Charlene Edwards, CNS, co-pays, Coalition of Oak Ridge Retired Employees, Consolidated Nuclear Security, CORRE, cost-of-living increase, demonstrators, health benefits, health insurance, health insurance benefits, hospital stays, Jason Bohne, Jerry Parrett, Keith Hyatt, mail order pharmacy, Medicare, National Nuclear Security Administration, out-of-pocket expenses, Part D prescription drug program, protest, protesters, retirees, U.S. Department of Energy, Y-12, Y-12 National Security Complex

Orr confirmed as DOE under secretary for science, energy

Posted at 11:07 am December 4, 2014
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Franklin M. "Lynn" Orr Jr.

Franklin M. “Lynn” Orr Jr. (Photo courtesy Stanford University/Franklin Orr)

WASHINGTON, D.C.—More than a year after his nomination was announced, Franklin “Lynn” Orr has been confirmed by the U.S. Senate to be the under secretary for science and energy at the U.S. Department of Energy. Orr was confirmed Thursday.

As under secretary for science and energy, Orr will oversee all of DOE’s science research programs, including a majority of the national laboratories.

This position is part of the department’s s recent reorganization, which expanded the under secretary for science role to encompass both science and energy, a DOE press release said. Orr’s role will include oversight of research in the Offices of Science, Fossil Energy, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Nuclear Energy, Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability, Indian Energy, and the Technology Transfer Coordinator.

Oak Ridge National Laboratory is an Office of Science lab. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: Barack Obama, DOE, energy, Ernest Moniz, Franklin Orr, Lynn Orr, national labs, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Office of Science, science, science research, scientist, Stanford University, U.S. Department of Energy, under secretary for science and energy

Safety forum on Wednesday to focus on worker accident

Posted at 2:06 am December 3, 2014
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge Business Safety Partnership

Forum to feature ORNL Excess Property Sales event and how complacency had near-fatal impact

The Oak Ridge Business Safety Partnership is having a community safety forum from 8 to 10 a.m. Wednesday, December 3, at the American Museum of Science and Energy. The safety forum, free of charge and open to the public, will explore an accident in which a worker was seriously injured that occurred earlier in 2014 during a routine transfer of excess equipment from UT-Battelle to the public.

Jimmy Stone, UT-Battelle’s Facilities and Operations Director, will make a presentation about the accident, focusing specifically on what could have been done to have prevented it from occurring, a press release said. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Front Page News, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: American Museum of Science and Energy, community safety forum, Fran Williams, Jenny Freeman, Jimmy Stone, Oak Ridge Business Safety Partnership, Oak Ridge Reservation, ORBSP, ORNL Excess Property Sales, safety forum, U.S. Department of Energy, UCOR, URS-CH2M, UT-Battelle

ORISE accepts apps for summer research with Homeland Security

Posted at 12:02 am November 26, 2014
By Oak Ridge Associated Universities Leave a Comment

The Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education is accepting applications for the 2015 U.S. Department of Homeland Security Summer Research Team Program for Minority Serving Institutions, or MSI. The program engages faculty and student teams in research that provides opportunities to better understand the mission and research needs of DHS and to strengthen the talent pool of scientists and engineers, a press release said.

ORISE administers the program for DHS through ORISE, which is managed by Oak Ridge Associated Universities for the U.S. Department of Energy.

The 10-week summer research program provides faculty and student teams from Minority Serving Institutions with opportunities to conduct research at the university-based DHS Centers of Excellence. The DHS Science and Technology Directorate Centers of Excellence network is an extended consortium of hundreds of universities generating ground-breaking ideas for new technologies, while collaborating to serve DHS’ many mission needs, the press release said. [Read more…]

Filed Under: College, Education, Federal, Front Page News, Government, Oak Ridge Associated Universities, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: applications, Centers of Excellence, DHS, engineers, Lee-Ann Kiser, Minority Serving Institutions, MSI, Oak Ridge Associated Universities, Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, ORISE, research, scientists, Summer Research Team Program, U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Department of Homeland Security

League of Women Voters receives $20,000 national grant

Posted at 2:15 pm November 25, 2014
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

League of Women Voters Logo

The League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge has received a $20,000 national grant that will fund an educational project for young adults (30 years or under) on hazardous waste management. The project is titled the Environmental Management Education Initiative Project.

The grant is made possible through the New Mexico Community Foundation’s Community Involvement Fund and is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy.

The purpose of the project is to expand the knowledge and understanding of these young people about the environmental management process and remediation actions in the Oak Ridge community.

The project will consist of two educational sub-projects: a Citizen’s Academy and a Rainbow Academy, a press release said. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Churches, Community, Nonprofits, Oak Ridge Site Specific Advisory Board, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: Citizen's Academy, DOE, educational project, environmental management, Environmental Management Education Initiative Project, grant, hazardous waste, hazardous waste management, Jan Lyons, League of Women Voters, League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge, LWVOR, New Mexico Community Foundation, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge Reservation, Oak Ridge Site Specific Advisory Board, Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, ORUUC, Peter Scheffler, Rainbow Academy, Rainbow Camp, Sandra Goss, Tandy Scheffler, TCWP, Tennessee Citizens for Wilderness Planning, U.S. Department of Energy

Oneida man gets three-month prison sentence for plot to extort B&W Y-12

Posted at 4:06 pm November 17, 2014
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Y-12 Aerial Photo June 2012

The Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge is pictured above in June 2012. (Photo courtesy NNSA)

 

A 25-year-old Scott County man was sentenced to serve three months in prison on Monday after he pleaded guilty in July to charges that he tried to extort Babcock and Wilcox Y-12 LLC, the former managing and operating contractor at the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge.

Adam Winters, 25, of Oneida received the sentence in U.S. District Court in Knoxville on Monday, U.S. Attorney William C. Killian said in a press release. After he is released from prison, Winters will be supervised for one year by U.S. Probation.

Killian said Winters, who had appeared on the television reality show “The Millionaire Matchmaker” in February, pleaded guilty in July to transmitting communications containing threats to injure the reputation of B&W Y-12 in interstate and foreign commerce, with intent to extort money and other things of value from the corporation. Winters admitted that he emailed Babcock and Wilcox and attempted to email the vice president of the United States regarding copies of slides that he possessed that contained information he believed would injure the reputation of Babcock and Wilcox. That May 8 email reportedly referred to slides of evidence from nuclear testing. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Federal, Government, National Nuclear Security Administration, Police and Fire, Slider, Top Stories, U.S., U.S. Department of Energy, Y-12, Y-12 National Security Complex Tagged With: Adam Winters, B&W Y-12, Babcock and Wilcox, Babcock and Wilcox Y-12 LLC, Brooklyn Sawyers, extortion, law enforcement, nuclear testing, Office of Inspector General, reputation, sentence, U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. District Court, William C. Killian, Y-12 National Security Complex

Alexander: World’s fastest supercomputer will again be at ORNL

Posted at 10:09 am November 14, 2014
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Summit Supercomputing Press Conference

U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, second from left, a Tennessee Republican, at a Friday morning press conference at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., with Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz, right; Senator Lamar Alexander, a Tennessee Republican, center; and representatives Bill Foster and Dan Lipinski. (Submitted photo)

 

U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander

Lamar Alexander

Note: This story was last updated at 11:25 a.m.

Oak Ridge National Laboratory will have the world’s fastest next-generation supercomputer, U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander announced at a Friday morning press conference with U.S. Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz.

Alexander, a Tennessee Republican, said the new computer will provide five times the performance of Titan, the current system, and support advanced scientific and materials research to improve economic and national security.

The “next-generation hybrid supercomputer” will be called Summit, and it will be delivered in 2017, the senator said.

“Once again the world’s fastest computer will be in the United States, and once again it will be at Oak Ridge,” Alexander said. “Supercomputing has helped Tennessee become a center for advanced manufacturing with the arrival of new companies, including several in the auto industry, creating thousands of good-paying jobs. Tennessee can continue to thrive and create many more good jobs with the use of this new supercomputer.” [Read more…]

Filed Under: Federal, Government, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: Barack Obama, Bill Foster, central processing unit, Chuck Fleischmann, climate change science, combustion science, Cray, Dan Lipinski, DOE, energy storage, Ernest Moniz, graphic processing unit, hybrid supercomputer, IBM, Jeff Nichols, Lamar Alexander, nuclear power, Oak Ridge Leadership Computing Facility, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Office of Science, OLCF, ORNL, research, science, summit, supercomputer, supercomputing, technology, Titan, U.S. Department of Energy

DOE Oak Ridge Office has Veterans Day program on Thursday

Posted at 8:06 pm November 3, 2014
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Lindsay M. Long

Lindsay M. Long

The U.S. Department of Energy Oak Ridge Office will have a Veterans Day program on Thursday, November 6, and it will feature keynote speaker and Marine Corps veteran Lindsay M. Long.

The program is designed to honor the “courageous men and women who serve and have served in our nation’s armed forces,” a press release said.

The program is scheduled from 10-11 a.m. Thursday at the American Museum of Science and Energy at 300 South Tulane Avenue. It’s open to employees and the public.

Performances include the Oak Ridge Celebration Choir, Lloyd Jones, and a recognition of veterans, and it will conclude with the sounding of “Taps” by USMC Retired Master Sergeant Maurice Parks.

Filed Under: Front Page News, Oak Ridge Office, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: American Museum of Science and Energy, armed forces, Lindsay M. Long, Lloyd Jones, Marine Corps, Maurice Parks, Oak Ridge Celebration Choir, Oak Ridge Office, U.S. Department of Energy, veterans, Veterans Day

2014 Election: Interest in mayor position, mall redevelopment, better ties with BOE

Posted at 1:06 am November 3, 2014
By John Huotari 7 Comments

Oak Ridge City Council Candidate Forum

Nine of the 10 Oak Ridge City Council candidates are pictured above. From right, they are Kelly Callison, Rick Chinn, incumbent Anne Garcia Garland, Warren Gooch, Gary Love, incumbent David Mosby, Pedro Otaduy, former Council member Ellen Smith, and Eric Tobler. Not pictured is Aditya “Doc” Savara.

 

A majority of the Oak Ridge City Council candidates said they would consider running for mayor or vice mayor if elected on Tuesday, and almost all supported the incentives recommended for the proposed redevelopers of the former Oak Ridge Mall.

The candidates were mixed on whether to bring back red-light cameras, and most seemed to think the city’s property tax rate is about right, in light of current budget needs.

Asked to grade the current Council as leaders, the candidates handed out grades ranging from “A” to “F.”

In a series of recent forums, the candidates generally advocated for better communication between the City Council and Oak Ridge Board of Education and, for the most part, seemed to be in favor of taking over Clark Center Park in south Oak Ridge, although their approvals would hinge on factors such as cost and property restrictions.

There are 10 candidates running for four seats on the seven-member Council in Tuesday’s election. Two of the incumbents—Anne Garcia Garland and David Mosby—are seeking re-election—and two others—Mayor Tom Beehan and Mayor Pro Tem Jane Miller—are not.

Many consider it a critical election, with a business boom under way and major projects on the horizon, including the proposed redevelopment of the mall and the planned $6.5 billion Uranium Processing Facility at Y-12 National Security Complex.

The new Council is expected to elect a new mayor and mayor pro tem (like a vice mayor) during its next meeting after Tuesday’s election.

Here is a look at some of what the candidates said during the recent forums. [Read more…]

Filed Under: 2014 Election, Government, Government, Oak Ridge, Slider, Top Stories Tagged With: Aditya "Doc" Savara, Anne Garcia Garland, BOE, candidates, City Council, Clark Center Park, commercial development, David Mosby, DOE, Ellen Smith, Eric Tobler, festivals, Gary Love, Grove Center, growth, housing, Jackson Square, Jane Miller, Kelly Callison, mayor, mayor pro tem, Oak Ridge Board of Education, Oak Ridge City Council, Oak Ridge Convention and Visitors Bureau, Oak Ridge Mall, Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department, Oak Ridge Schools, Pedro Otaduy, property tax rate, recreational events, red light cameras, residents, retail, Rick Chinn, sales tax revenue, schools, tax increment financing, tax revenues, TIF, Tom Beehan, U.S. Department of Energy, UPF, uranium processing facility, vice mayor, vision, Warren Gooch, Y-12 National Security Complex

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Classifieds

Availability of the draft environmental assessment for off-site depleted uranium manufacturing (DOE/EA-2252)

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) announces the … [Read More...]

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AVAILABILITY OF THE FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR THE OFFSITE HOUSING OF THE Y-12 DEVELOPMENT … [Read More...]

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