Y-12 National Security Complex Archives

Halls Middle School students get ‘taste of science’ at Y-12

May 21, 2013 By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Daryl Smith of Y-12, left, demonstrates how a banana freezes when soaked in liquid nitrogen at New Hope Center to Miller Sullivan, center, and Tyler Young of Halls Middle School on Monday. (Submitted photo)

During a visit to the Y-12 National Security Complex on Monday, eighth-graders Miller Sullivan and Tyler Young learned what happens to a banana when it is submerged in liquid nitrogen.

Darryl Smith of Y-12 was one of four engineering, science, and history experts to give nearly 50 Halls Middle School students “a taste of science past and present at Y-12,” a press release said. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Education, K-12, Top Stories, Y-12 National Security Complex Tagged With: Andrea Souza, Darryl Smith, Halls Middle School, Miller Sullivan, taste of science, Tyler Young, Y-12 National Security Complex

Y-12 recognized as a ‘best workplace for commuters’

May 21, 2013 By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Y-12 Best Work Place for Commuters Award

Durand Carmany talks about how the 4/10 work schedule and on-site taxi service help make the Y‑12 National Security Complex one of the best workplaces for commuters as Sara Martin of Smart Trips looks on. (Photo by Scott Fraker/Y-12)

The Y-12 National Security Complex was one of several East Tennessee businesses recently recognized for meeting the National Standard of Excellence awarded by Best Workplaces for Commuters, or BWC.

Other businesses included Green Mountain Coffee, Home Federal Bank, Tomato Head, and Knoxville Utilities Board. They were recently recognized by Smart Trips, Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett, and City of Knoxville Deputy Mayor Eddie Mannis. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Top Stories, Y-12 National Security Complex Tagged With: 4/10 schedule, Best Workplaces for Commuters, BWC, commuting, compressed work week, Durand Carmany, greenhouse gas emissions, Jan Jackson, National Center for Transit Research, Projects Sustainability and Facilities, Smart Trips, sustainability, Sustainability and Stewardship, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, University of South Florida, vehicle miles, Y-12 National Security Complex

Microwaves could melt uranium at UPF, help remove carbon impurities

May 15, 2013 By John Huotari Leave a Comment

A microwave operator handles the crucible that holds the material as it is melted. Microwave technology is the preferred method for melting materials because of the ease of removing carbon impurities from the metal. (Photos courtesy B&W Y-12)

New microwaves that can melt metal and help remove carbon impurities from uranium could be used in the proposed Uranium Processing Facility at the Y-12 National Security Complex.

Y-12 doesn’t plan to use any of its traditional ovens, known as vacuum induction melters, or VIMs, in the UPF, officials said. Those ovens use electric currents and a magnetic field to melt metal.

But it’s easier to “float out” carbon impurities in microwaves because they don’t stir molten metals the way the traditional ovens do, Y-12 officials said. Carbon contaminants in uranium castings could be reduced by 30 percent.

Y-12 melts and casts uranium to combine it into hollow cylinders for storage, make parts for the nation’s nuclear weapons stockpile, and supply nuclear fuel for the U.S. Navy. Microwaves could eventually be used for all three tasks. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Top Stories, Y-12 National Security Complex Tagged With: carbon, casting, Ellen Boatner, impurities, John Gertsen, melting, metals, microwave, National Nuclear Security Administration, naval nuclear fuel, nuclear weapons stockpile, production microwave, UPF, uranium, uranium cylinders, uranium processing facility, vacuum induction melter, VIM, Y-12 National Security Complex

B&W team says it’s the best choice for Y-12, Pantex contract

May 13, 2013 By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Y-12 National Security Complex (Submitted photo)

One of the two teams that did not win the $23 billion contract to manage and operate two nuclear weapons plants in Tennessee and Texas said newly released federal documents show it had the best bid.

The contract to manage the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge and Pantex Plant in Amarillo, Texas, was awarded to Consolidated Nuclear Security LLC, of Reston, Va., on Jan. 8. The consolidated contract, the first ever for the National Nuclear Security Administration, is expected to save money.

But the two losing teams—Nuclear Production Partners LLC of Lynchburg, Va., and Integrated Nuclear Production Solutions LLC of Oak Ridge—filed bid protests. On April 29, the U.S. Government Accountability Office upheld those protests in part. The GAO questioned whether the NNSA had properly evaluated the expected savings, and the agency recommended that the contract procurement be re-opened and more information requested from the bidders. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Business, Federal, Government, National Nuclear Security Administration, Oak Ridge, Top Stories, Y-12 National Security Complex Tagged With: Babcock and Wilcox Co., Bechtel National Inc., bid protests, bidding teams, bids, CNS, consolidated contract, Consolidated Nuclear Security LLC, GAO, Integrated Nuclear Production Solutions LLC, Jason Bohne, National Nuclear Security Administration, NNSA, NP2, Nuclear Production Partners LLC, nuclear weapons plants, Pantex Plant, procurement, Ralph White, SEB, Source Evaluation Board, U.S. Government Accountability Office, Y-12 National Security Complex

Y-12 protesters guilty of two federal charges, jailed overnight

May 8, 2013 By John Huotari 6 Comments

The Fruit of Justice is Peace Slogan on HEUMF at Y-12

Three anti-nuclear weapons activists who sneaked into the Y-12 National Security Complex on July 28 splashed human blood and, quoting Proverbs, sprayed paint on the Highly Enriched Uranium Materials Facility. The protesters also hammered the building, causing it to chip, and strung up crime scene tape. (Submitted photo)

KNOXVILLE—The Catholic nun, house painter, and laborer who broke into the Y-12 National Security Complex in July and splashed human blood and spray-painted slogans on a uranium storage building were found guilty on two federal counts Wednesday, one charging them with property depredation of more than $1,000 and the other alleging they willfully injured national defense premises.

The three protesters—Megan Rice, 83; Michael R. Walli, 64; and Greg Boertje-Obed, 57—were taken to the Blount County jail after the verdict was read at the end of a two-day trial in U.S. District Court in Knoxville. Dozens of courtroom supporters sang softly as the three anti-nuclear weapons activists were taken into custody after about 2.5 hours of deliberations by the nine men and three women on the jury panel.

Boertje-Obed, Rice, and Walli have a detention hearing on Thursday morning. Each faces up to 30 years in prison. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Federal, Government, National Nuclear Security Administration, Police and Fire, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy, Y-12 National Security Complex, Y-12 Security Breach Tagged With: Amul R. Thapar, anti-nuclear weapons activists, Bill Quigley, Greg Boertje-Obed, Highly Enriched Uranium Materials Facility, Jeffrey Theodore, Megan Rice, Michael Walli, Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance, property depredation, protesters, Ralph Hutchison, security breach, Transform Now Plowshares, U.S. District Court, verdict, willfully injuring national defense premises, Y-12 National Security Complex

After GAO upholds protests, NNSA to request more info from Y-12, Pantex bidders

May 8, 2013 By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Y-12 National Security Complex (Submitted photo)

After one federal agency upheld parts of two bid protests, a second one on Wednesday announced it will request more information from the three teams that submitted bids on a contract to manage and operate two nuclear weapons plants in Tennessee and Texas.

In January, the National Nuclear Security Administration announced it had awarded a contract valued at about $23 billion to Consolidated Nuclear Security LLC, or CNS, to manage and operate the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge and Pantex Plant near Amarillo, Texas. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Business, National Nuclear Security Administration, Oak Ridge, Top Stories, Y-12 National Security Complex Tagged With: CNS, Consolidated Nuclear Security LLC, GAO, National Nuclear Security Administration, NNSA, nuclear weapons plants, Pantex Plant, U.S. Government Accountability Office, Y-12 National Security Complex

Y-12 protester case goes to jury this afternoon

May 8, 2013 By John Huotari 1 Comment

Pictured above are the three anti-nuclear weapons protesters who broke into the Y-12 National Security Complex on July 28. From left, they are Michael Walli, Megan Rice, and Greg Boertje-Obed.

Note: This story was last updated at 12:51 p.m.

KNOXVILLE—The case against three anti-nuclear weapons activists who broke into the Y-12 National Security Complex in July and vandalized a uranium storage building could go to a jury this afternoon.

The government rested its case yesterday, and the defense rested this morning after the three defendants—Greg Boertje-Obed, Megan Rice, and Michael Walli—testified.

The three acknowledge sneaking into Y-12 on July 28, cutting through high-security fences, and pouring blood and spray-painting biblical passages on the Highly Enriched Uranium Materials Facility, where most of the nation’s bomb-grade uranium is stored. But they say they were religiously motivated and peacefully protesting the plant’s nuclear weapons work, symbolically disarming the 811-acre plant. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Federal, Government, National Nuclear Security Administration, Police and Fire, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy, Y-12 National Security Complex, Y-12 Security Breach Tagged With: Amul Thapar, Greg Boertje-Obed, Highly Enriched Uranium Materials Facility, Megan Rice, Michael Walli, nuclear weapons, property depredation, security breach, Transform Now Plowshares, U.S. District Court, willfully injuring the national defense, Y-12 National Security Complex

Government rests in federal trial against Y-12 protesters

May 8, 2013 By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Three anti-nuclear weapons activists who sneaked into the Y-12 National Security Complex on July 28 allegedly splashed human blood and, quoting Proverbs, sprayed paint on the Highly Enriched Uranium Materials Facility. The protesters also hammered the building, causing it to chip, and strung up crime scene tape. (Submitted photo)

The government rested on Tuesday in the federal trial against three protesters accused of vandalizing a uranium storage building at the Y-12 National Security Complex in July.

The three anti-nuclear weapons activists—Greg Boertje-Obed, Megan Rice, and Michael Walli—face charges of property depredation and willfully injuring national defense premises.

Jury selection was Monday, and the trial started Tuesday.

It resumes at 9 a.m. today in U.S. District Court in Knoxville.

Rice is expected to resume testifying this morning.

Citing insufficient evidence, Y-12 protesters seek acquittal on most serious charge

May 7, 2013 By John Huotari Leave a Comment

William P. Quigley of New Orleans, left, an attorney for one of the three anti-nuclear weapons activists who spray-painted biblical passages and poured blood on a uranium storage building at the Y-12 National Security Complex in July, greets supporters outside U.S. District Court in Knoxville on Tuesday.

Attorneys for the three protesters on trial this week for vandalizing a uranium storage building at a nuclear weapons plant said the government doesn’t have enough evidence to convict the defendants on a national defense charge, the most serious of the two remaining charges.

The national defense charge alleges Greg Boertje-Obed, Megan Rice, and Michael Walli willfully injured national defense premises when they cut through three fences in a high-security Protected Area at Y-12 on July 28 and spray-painted biblical passages and poured blood on the Highly Enriched Uranium Materials Facility, where most of the nation’s bomb-grade uranium is stored. The charge carries a potential prison sentence of up to 20 years. [Read more...]

B&W chief operating officer to retire but remain CEO of joint venture for Y-12/Pantex bid

May 6, 2013 By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

The Babcock and Wilcox Co. announced Monday that Mary Pat Salomone, senior vice president and chief operating officer, will retire effective June 30 after 31 years with the company.

But Salomone will continue serving as chief executive officer of Nuclear Production Partners LLC, or NP2, the B&W-led joint venture competing for the U.S. Department of Energy contract to manage and operate Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge and Pantex Plant near Amarillo, Texas. B&W is now the lead management and operating contractor at the two plants.
[Read more...]

Filed Under: Anderson County, Business, National Nuclear Security Administration, Oak Ridge, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy, Y-12 National Security Complex Tagged With: B&W, Babcock and Wilcox Co., E. James Ferland, Mary Pat Salomone, NP2, Nuclear Production Partners LLC, Pantex Plant, U.S. Department of Energy, Y-12 National Security Complex

Y-12 site manager, fired security guard could testify at protester trial

May 6, 2013 By John Huotari 2 Comments

Anti-nuclear weapons activists Megan Rice, left, and Greg Boertje-Obed are pictured with Michele Naar-Obed after jury selection in U.S. District Court in Knoxville on Monday. Rice and Boertje-Obed and a third defendant, Michael Walli, are on trial this week for vandalizing a uranium storage building at the Y-12 National Security Complex in July.

This story was updated at 9 p.m.

KNOXVILLE—A federal official who oversees production work at two nuclear weapons plants and the guard who was fired after the unprecedented security breach at the Y-12 National Security Complex in July could both testify this week during the trial of three anti-nuclear weapons activists accused of vandalizing a uranium storage building.

The federal official, Steven C. Erhart, oversees nuclear production work at Y-12 and the Pantex Site in Amarillo, Texas. He manages the National Nuclear Security Administration Production Office, or NPO.

The guard, Kirk Garland, was the first security officer to reach the three anti-nuclear weapons activists, who cut through three fences in a high-security Protected Area at Y-12 before dawn on July 28 and splashed human blood and spray-painted slogans on the Highly Enriched Uranium Materials Facility, where most of the nation’s bomb-grade uranium is stored. Garland was fired Aug. 10, a few weeks after the intrusion. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Federal, Government, National Nuclear Security Administration, Police and Fire, Top Stories, Y-12 National Security Complex, Y-12 Security Breach Tagged With: Kirk Garland, National Nuclear Security Administration Production Office, NPO, security breach, Steven C. Erhart, Y-12 National Security Complex

Jury selection starts today for Y-12 protesters

May 6, 2013 By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Pictured above are the three anti-nuclear weapons protesters who broke into the Y-12 National Security Complex on July 28. From left, they are Michael Walli, Megan Rice, and Greg Boertje-Obed.

Jury selection starts this afternoon in U.S. District Court in Knoxville for the three anti-nuclear weapons activists accused of breaking into the Y-12 National Security Complex in July and vandalizing a uranium storage building.

The jury selection starts at 1:30 p.m. in Courtroom 1A.

The case against Greg Boertje-Obed, Megan Rice, and Michael Walli starts Tuesday.

Filed Under: Federal, Government, Police and Fire, Top Stories, Y-12 National Security Complex, Y-12 Security Breach Tagged With: Greg Boertje-Obed, jury selection, Megan Rice, Michael Walli, U.S. District Court, Y-12 National Security Complex