Oak Ridge Today

Y-12 guard transition complete

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WSI Oak Ridge has provided security guard services at the Y-12 National Security Complex for years, but that work has come to an end, three months after an unprecedented security breach.

B&W Y-12, the company that manages and operates Y-12, announced on Monday that it had taken over the security guard force and hired 560 WSI Oak Ridge employees.

On Tuesday, WSI Oak Ridge said the transition was complete.

WSI Oak Ridge said it has provided para-military protective force services to Y-12 for more than a decade and at U.S. Department of Energy sites across the nation for more than 50 years. It continues to provide protective force services for local DOE sites at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, East Tennessee Technology Park, and the Federal Office Building Complex.

“I appreciate the hard work and dedication demonstrated by all our employees,” WSI Oak Ridge General Manager Steve Hafner said. “I am happy that so many employees successfully transitioned to B&W Y-12 and proud to report that every WSI Oak Ridge employee has a position.”

The security force transition from WSI Oak Ridge to B&W Y-12 started Oct. 1 and lasted about a month.

B&W Y-12 announced in September that it would terminate its contract with WSI Oak Ridge. The National Nuclear Security Administration had recommended the move. B&W Y-12 manages and operates Y-12 for the NNSA.

WSI became a subcontractor to B&W Y-12 after the July 28 security breach. Before then, it had operated under a separate contract with the NNSA.

The contracting change was one of several changes made after three anti-nuclear weapons activists, including an 82-year-old nun, sneaked into Y-12 before dawn on July 28, cut through three fences with bolt cutters, and vandalized a building where bomb-grade uranium is stored.

B&W Y-12 takes over guard force, hires 560 WSI workers

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Note: This story was updated at 11:07 p.m.

After a four-week transition, B&W Y-12 has taken over the security guard force at the Y-12 National Security Complex and hired 560 WSI Oak Ridge employees.

The transition ends three months after an unprecedented security breach at Y-12 and one month after B&W Y-12 announced it would terminate its contract with WSI Oak Ridge. That company, also known as Wackenhut and G4S Government Solutions, had provided security guards at the nuclear weapons complex for about a dozen years.

“The transition from WSI Oak Ridge to B&W Y-12 has gone very smoothly, and we welcome these new employees to the company,” said retired Brig. Gen. Rod Johnson, deputy general manager for security. “We’ve already seen improvements in security performance following previously announced contracting changes, and we believe we’ll see additional successes with the protective force fully integrated into B&W Y-12.”

B&W Y-12 announced it would end the WSI Oak Ridge contract after a Sept. 28 recommendation from the National Nuclear Security Administration. B&W Y-12 manages and operates Y-12 for the NNSA.

The transition from WSI to B&W Y-12 began Oct. 1. B&W had said it would offer employment to active Y-12 security police officers and other active union WSI Oak Ridge employees at Y-12 and the Central Training Facility in Oak Ridge.

B&W Y-12 had also said it would evaluate non-union WSI Oak Ridge employees who supervise and support Y-12 guards.

WSI became a subcontractor to B&W Y-12 after the July 28 security breach. Before that highly publicized intrusion, WSI had operated under a separate contract with the NNSA.

The contracting change was among many made after three anti-nuclear weapons activists, including an 82-year-old nun, sneaked into Y-12 before dawn on July 28, cut through three fences with bolt cutters, and vandalized a building where bomb-grade uranium is stored. The breach also led to federal investigations and critical reports, congressional hearings, staff re-assignments and suspensions, and at least one firing.

B&W Y-12 said it has made many improvements in security in the past three months, significantly reducing false and nuisance alarms, successfully completing two intensive force-on-force exercises to test protective force readiness, and installing new security cameras.

Y-12 protesters release photos of July 28 intrusion

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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 spray-painted slogans on the Highly Enriched Uranium Materials Facility. The protesters also hammered the building, chipping it, and strung up crime scene tape. (Submitted photo)

The three anti-nuclear weapons activists who allegedly cut through fences at the Y-12 National Security Complex on July 28, evaded guards, and vandalized a high-security building where bomb-grade uranium is stored have released photographs showing the blood they splashed and slogans they spray-painted on the Highly Enriched Uranium Materials Facility.

The five photos also show holes cut in fences near the HEUMF, including one photo taken after the three protesters—Greg Boertje-Obed, Megan Rice, and Michael R. Walli—had been arrested. In addition, they show red crime scene tape that was strung up by the three activists and a building corner that was chipped by the protesters, who hammered on the $549 million building to send a symbolic and literal message, “a rejection of nuclear weapons as a cornerstone of our national policy.”

The pictures were obtained by the protesters as part of the discovery stage in advance of a Feb. 26 trial in U.S. District Court in Knoxville. They were released to the media on Monday.

The trio face federal charges of property destruction, property depredation, and trespassing. They have pleaded not guilty and face potential penalties of up to 16 years in prison.

“These photographs carry with them our message,” said the three activists, who called their unprecedented intrusion Tranform Now Plowshares. “We came to Y-12 in a spirit of hope, not fear. We were authorized—even required—to act by the responsibilities placed on us as citizens. The Nuremberg principles, codified by the United Nations after World War II, require citizens to refuse cooperation with unlawful government acts insofar as it is morally possible. We also felt called, as children of God, to act on behalf of all God’s children, including and especially those who are threatened daily by the machines of war and the power of empire.”

Transform Now Plowshares at Y-12

The three protesters painted slogans and poured blood on a concrete wall at the edge of an area designed to detect intruders near the Highly Enriched Uranium Materials Facility at the Y-12 National Security Complex.

They called the production of nuclear weapons a crime against humanity. They said were protesting the continued production of nuclear weapons at Y-12, as well as plans to build a new Uranium Processing Facility, which they estimate could cost $7.5 billion. (Government officials generally say the building could cost up to $6.5 billion.)

The protesters said that spreading the blood of Plowshares members across the HEUMF was a reminder that the use of nuclear weapons will “result in bloodshed beyond calculation and deaths beyond counting.”

They said the pictures released Monday, which include slogans quoting biblical passages, speak for themselves but don’t tell the whole story. They said their story is more than a stunning tale of making it through an high-security zone at Y-12, a place where deadly force is authorized, although that’s where most of the public attention has been focused since July.

“The whole story includes why we went there and the message we took,” Boertje-Obed, Rice, and Walli said in a statement released Monday. “We carried with us a Bible, hammers, candles, bread, white roses, and blood. We attempted to embody the prophecy God gave to Isaiah, to beat swords into plowshares. We tried to be faithful followers of Jesus Christ, who calls us to find our true security in love and compassion.”

Y-12 protesters get three-week extension to file motions

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Transform Now Plowshares

The three anti-nuclear weapons activists pictured above cut through fences and vandalized a high-security building at the Y-12 National Security Complex in July and now face federal charges of property destruction, property depredation, and trespassing. From left to right, the three are Michael R. Walli, Megan Rice, and Greg Boertje-Obed. (Submitted photo)

A federal judge has given attorneys three extra weeks to file motions in the government’s case against three anti-nuclear weapons activists accused of sneaking into the Y-12 National Security Complex in July and vandalizing a building where bomb-grade uranium is stored.

On Oct. 9, the attorneys asked for a one-month extension, which would have given them until Nov. 9 to file motions for Greg Boertje-Obed, Megan Rice, and Michael R. Walli. They said they hadn’t completed their investigation and needed more time to consult with the defendants.

In an order filed Wednesday, U.S. Magistrate Judge C. Clifford Shirley Jr. gave them until Oct. 30. A motion hearing has been scheduled for Nov. 20.

“In order to remain on track for the Feb. 26, 2013, trial of this matter, this motion hearing cannot be delayed,” Shirley said. “Additional extensions of the motion deadline will not be permitted, except in the event of extraordinary circumstances.”

Shirley said attorneys had said the discovery, or information collected in the case, was minimal, and he was “somewhat surprised” to hear that more time was needed to investigate the facts.

Boertje-Obed, Rice, and Walli are accused of sneaking into Y-12 before dawn on July 28, cutting through fences with bolt cutters, evading guards, and spray-painting slogans and splashing human blood on the Highly Enriched Uranium Materials Facility.

They have been charged with property destruction, property depredation, and trespassing. The three protesters, who have pleaded not guilty, face potential penalties of up to 16 years in jail and $600,000 in fines.

Walli is represented by Christopher Scott Irwin of Knoxville and William P. Quigley of New Orleans. Rice is represented by Francis L. Lloyd Jr. of Knoxville. Boertje-Obed is representing himself, although he has the assistance of “elbow counsel,” Knoxville attorney Bobby E. Hutson Jr.

The Nov. 20 motion hearing starts at 9:30 a.m. in U.S. District Court in Knoxville.

The unprecedented security breach has had a significant impact on Y-12, its contractors, and the National Nuclear Security Administration. Among other things, there have been federal investigations, two congressional hearings, a temporary halt in nuclear operations, a contract termination for security guard company WSI Oak Ridge, and a firing, suspensions, retirements, and reassignments at WSI, NNSA, and B&W Y-12.

Note: This story was last updated at 10:27 p.m. Oct. 18.

Energy-saving ‘cool roofs’ installed at Y-12

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Y-12 Cool Roofs

The Y-12 National Security Complex installed “cool roofs” on buildings, including Building 9204-2E, under a federal program. (Submitted photo)

New roofs that reflect heat are expected to reduce energy costs at the Y-12 National Security Complex, a press release said.

The light-colored “cool” roofs reflect more heat than darker roofs, emitting absorbed solar radiation back into the atmosphere and helping to keep buildings cooler. They can reduce cooling costs by up to 15 percent.

The release said 15 percent of Y-12 roofs are now equipped with the roofs, and they are expected to be used for a majority of the plant’s buildings. Y-12 has already installed almost 100,000 square feet of the roofs, including, most recently, on Buildings 9204-2E and 9103, the release said.

“Replacing older, heat-absorbing roofs with the heat-reflective cool roofs is part of National Nuclear Security Administration’s strategy to achieve energy and cost efficiencies,” said Robert “Dino” Herrera, Facilities and Infrastructure Recapitalization Program manager. “We strive to lead the way as good stewards of the environment.”

The press release said NNSA has installed nearly three million square feet of cool roofs at eight sites across the country and expects to save energy and related costs during the next several years.

Y-12 protesters ask for extra month to file motions in federal case

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Attorneys for the three anti-nuclear weapons activists accused of sneaking into the Y-12 National Security Complex have asked for more time to file motions.

The three defendants—Greg Boertje-Obed, Megan Rice, and Michael R. Walli—have been charged with property destruction, property depredation, and trespassing. They face a Feb. 26 trial in U.S. District Court in Knoxville.

Tuesday was the deadline to file motions in the federal case against them. The activists and their attorneys have asked for an extra month.

In a motion filed Tuesday, the attorneys asked for the deadline to be extended to Nov. 9 because they haven’t finished investigating the “circumstances of this case and therefore cannot yet fully advise the defendants regarding the filing of motions in this matter.”

Walli is represented by Christopher Scott Irwin of Knoxville and William P. Quigley of New Orleans, Rice is represented by Francis L. Lloyd Jr. of Knoxville, and Boertje-Obed is representing himself, although he has the assistance of “elbow counsel,” Knoxville attorney Bobby E. Hutson Jr.

During the July 28 security breach at Y-12, the three activists allegedly spray-painted slogans and splashed human blood on the Highly Enriched Uranium Materials Facility, where bomb-grade uranium is stored.

They have pleaded not guilty to the federal charges against them. They face potential penalties of up to 16 years in jail and $600,000 in fines.

Ohio congressman questions leaders’ knowledge of Y-12 security failures

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Mike Turner

Mike Turner

Note: This story was last updated at 12:50 p.m.

An Ohio congressman on Tuesday said federal and contractor officials continue to assert that senior leaders had no knowledge of failing systems before the July 28 security breach at the Y-12 National Security Complex, but he finds that unbelievable.

“It is not fathomable and not credible that the systems would have such repeated failures and have such vulnerabilities and no one knew,” said U.S. Rep. Mike Turner, an Ohio Republican. “The system didn’t just fail that night but had been repeatedly failing.”

Many of the alleged failures that allowed three anti-nuclear weapons activists to sneak into the plant on July 28, including cameras that didn’t work and guards who didn’t respond appropriately, have been documented in an Aug. 10 “show cause” letter from the National Nuclear Security Administration to B&W Y-12 as well as in an August report from the U.S. Department of Energy Inspector General. The failures were scrutinized in two congressional hearings in September, when lawmakers scolded federal officials and criticized contractors.

Not knowing about the failures might be even worse than knowing about them and not doing anything, Turner said.

Turner, who toured Y-12 on Monday and had a conference call with reporters on Tuesday, chairs the Strategic Forces Subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee. He has introduced legislation that would have the military, rather than contractors, provide security at certain National Nuclear Security Administration sites such as Y-12.

He and Rep. Loretta Sanchez, a California Democrat and ranking member of the Strategic Forces Subcommittee, expressed their concerns in a Sept. 13 letter to President Barack Obama.

“From our preliminary oversight activities of the Y-12 site security incursion of July 28, it is clear that an unprecedented security failure occurred due to contractor incompetence and failures at every level of oversight,” the letter said. “Lapses at every level in terms of process, personnel, and accountability could have allowed a disaster.”

The system that was in place was permitted to degrade and may have been insufficient, Turner said Tuesday.

In their letter to Obama, he and Sanchez said the issues may not be limited to Y-12. They said security at DOE-NNSA facilities is inadequate and the facilities could be “gravely at risk.”

Turner’s legislation, called Securing Our Nuclear Weapons and Facilities Act, would transfer responsibility for providing security at certain NNSA sites to the U.S. Department of Defense. Under the bill, the military would provide security for nuclear weapons and special nuclear material at NNSA sites like it does for nuclear weapons in military custody, the congressman’s office said.

In addition, the responsibility for securing the transportation of nuclear weapons would shift to DOD.

It’s part of a debate that dates back decades over whether to use federal or contractor forces for certain types of government work. There is also a debate over what nuclear weapons work should be done by civilians and what should be done by the military.

“The July 28 incident is evidence that the current guards aren’t up to the job,” the congressman’s office said in a statement. “Much of the fault is on the larger system that enabled the failures, but ultimately several of the individual guards failed to do their jobs.”

The statement said the military is already responsible for safeguarding nuclear weapons on bases, including at facilities in Washington and Georgia.

“The military already knows how to do this and do it well,” the statement said.

Turner said he left Monday’s tour believing that officials—including Rod Johnson, who is now the senior official in charge of security at Y-12—are highly dedicated to resolving security issues. He said security at Y-12 today is better than it has ever been.

There were different types of failures that allowed the July 28 security breach, including technological problems, the performance of security personnel, and senior management and leadership failures, Turner said. But he said the problems that existed on July 28, when the three activists spray-painted slogans and splashed human blood on the Highly Enriched Uranium Materials Facility, have been addressed.

Turner said ongoing investigations will hold people accountable. There have already been a string of staff changes and a series of investigations, among other things, and security guard company WSI Oak Ridge is losing its contract at Y-12.

But Turner said he is still skeptical about whether the nation is adequately addressing security needs at NNSA facilities.

“We have no margin for error,” he said.

Oak Ridge deer hunt canceled

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A deer hunt in Oak Ridge has been canceled as a result of the fallout from the July 28 security breach at the Y-12 National Security Complex, according to WYSH Radio in Clinton.

On Thursday, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency said it was informed by the U.S. Department of Energy that the hunt scheduled for Oct. 20 and 21 on the Oak Ridge Wildlife Management Area was canceled while security on the Oak Ridge Reservation is reviewed, WYSH said.

TWRA said it will notify the affected hunters by mail and that it will refund any fees that have already been paid for the hunt. Similar Oak Ridge hunts set for November and December remain scheduled, WYSH said.

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UPF could be enlarged, site work could begin by end of year

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John Eschenberg on UPF at Rotary Club

At right, John Eschenberg, federal project director for the Uranium Processing Facility at the Y-12 National Security Complex, discusses the proposed $6.5 billion building with Leslie England and John Iacovino after a Wednesday morning Rotary Club meeting.

Note: This story was last updated at 9:53 a.m. Oct. 4.

The new $6.5 billion Uranium Processing Facility at the Y-12 National Security Complex could be larger than originally planned to make sure all the building’s equipment fits inside, a federal official said Wednesday.

The roof could be raised by 13 feet to 71 feet, said John Eschenberg, UPF federal project director at Y-12. That would give adequate room for process equipment used for machining, wet chemistry, and casting, as well as for the operators who use it.

To raise the roof, the building’s walls will be thickened from 18 inches to 30 inches, and the foundation will be thicker as well, Eschenberg said.

Some work at the site, which is located in the heart of Y-12, could begin by the end of the year, Eschenberg said. That work would include removing a parking lot and relocating a section of Bear Creek Road.

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WSI Oak Ridge pledges to help B&W Y-12 during security transition

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Although it is losing its contract to guard the Y-12 National Security Complex, WSI Oak Ridge on Monday said it will work with B&W Y-12 to help with the transition of the plant’s protective force during the next few weeks.

B&W Y-12 announced Friday that it would end the contract with WSI. That announcement came two months after an unprecedented security breach at Y-12, and it occurred on the same day that the National Nuclear Security Administration recommended a contract termination.

B&W Y-12, which manages and operates the plant for the National Nuclear Security Administration, will now be responsible for security.

The transition of the site’s protective functions started Monday, and a WSI press release suggested it could last several weeks.

“WSI Oak Ridge will continue to assist however necessary, for as long as necessary, to ensure a safe and secure transition,” the release said. “Both parties have agreed that in the interest of Y-12, we will work together to secure opportunities for support personnel.”

The 811-acre Y-12 plant, which manufactures parts for every weapon in the nation’s nuclear arsenal, has about 500 guards. Also known as Wackenhut Services and G4S Government Solutions, WSI has guarded the site since 2000.

“WSI has enjoyed supporting NNSA, B&W, and the Oak Ridge community at large over our past decade of protective force support to the Y-12 National Security Complex,” the release said.

In its press release Friday, B&W Y-12 said active Y-12 security police officers and other active union WSI Oak Ridge employees at Y-12 and the Central Training Facility in Oak Ridge will be offered employment with B&W Y-12 at their current wages and benefits. Collective bargaining agreements with union employees will be honored.

 B&W Y-12 will also conduct an evaluation and hiring process for non-union WSI Oak Ridge employees who supervise and support Y-12 guards, the release said.

B&W Y-12 will terminate WSI Oak Ridge security contract

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Note: This story was updated at 10:48 a.m. Oct. 1.

WSI Oak Ridge, the company that has guarded the Y-12 National Security Complex for about a dozen years, will lose its contract, B&W Y-12 announced Friday evening.

The announcement came two months after an unprecedented security breach. It occurred on the same day that the National Nuclear Security Administration recommended a contract termination.

“B&W Y-12 fully supports NNSA’s recommendation in this matter and will work diligently to further enhance the security at Y-12 and make the transition for former WSI Oak Ridge employees as seamless as possible,” said B&W Y-12 President and General Manager Chuck Spencer. “We recognize that our focus on safety and security at Y-12 cannot be compromised, and we remain committed to continuing to drive improvements in both areas.”

B&W Y-12, which manages and operates the plant for the NNSA, will now be responsible for Y-12 security, a press release said. The transition will start Monday.

Y-12 manufactures parts for every weapon in the nation’s nuclear arsenal, and B&W Y-12 said it wants the transition to be orderly, ensuring that “safe and secure operations remain the highest priority.”

A company press release said active Y-12 security police officers and other active union WSI Oak Ridge employees at Y-12 and the Central Training Facility in Oak Ridge will be offered employment with B&W Y-12 at their current wages and benefits. Collective bargaining agreements with union employees will be honored.

B&W Y-12 will also conduct an evaluation and hiring process for non-union WSI Oak Ridge employees who supervise and support Y-12 guards, the release said.

It said WSI Oak Ridge employees at Y-12 and the Central Training Facility should continue reporting to work as scheduled.

There are about 500 guards at Y-12. WSI, also known as Wackenhut Services and G4S Government Solutions, has provided security services there since 2000.

WSI became a subcontractor to B&W Y-12 after the July 28 security breach. Before that highly publicized intrusion, which has brought the plant much unwanted attention and punctured its aura of invincibility, WSI had operated under a separate contract with the NNSA.

Officials said the subcontractor status would result in a “single-point accountability for security.”

During the security breach, three anti-nuclear weapons activists sneaked into the plant, cut through fences with bolt cutters, and spray-painted slogans and splashed human blood on the Highly Enriched Uranium Materials Facility, where bomb-grade uranium is stored.

A variety of concerns have been raised since then, including by members of Congress, who focused on the actions of the guards and contractors, and security cameras that didn’t work.

On Friday, NNSA Public Affairs Director Josh McConaha did not say what evidence was used to recommend a WSI contract termination.

The B&W Y-12 press release said the company began making changes quickly after the July 28 intrusion to prevent any future occurrences.

“These actions included the removal and replacement of key leadership personnel, restoration of critical security system elements to service, and refining and recalibrating of alarm system components to enhance reliability,” it said. “Through multiple corrective measures, daily site-wide alarms have been significantly reduced, and protective force alarm responses have improved.”

Federal officials recommend WSI contract termination, extend B&W Y-12 contract

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Highly Enriched Uranium Materials Facility

Federal officials have recommended ending a contract with a security company two months after three protesters reached the Highly Enriched Uranium Materials Facility at the Y-12 National Security Complex. (Photo courtesy of NNSA/B&W Y-12)

Note: This story was last updated at 10:41 a.m. Oct. 1.

Two months after an unprecedented security breach, federal officials have recommended ending a contract with guard company WSI Oak Ridge at the Y-12 National Security Complex.

In a brief letter Friday, the National Nuclear Security Administration said it has had “grave concerns” about the ability of WSI Oak Ridge and managing contractor B&W Y-12 to “effectively perform physical security functions at Y-12” after the July 28 intrusion by three anti-nuclear weapons activists.

Federal officials said B&W Y-12 should assume direct responsibility for protective force operations as early as it can. B&W Y-12 manages and operates Y-12 for the NNSA, a separate U.S. Department of Energy agency, and the company will decide whether to end the WSI contract.

“They will have to figure out what that transition looks like,” NNSA Public Affairs Director Josh McConaha said.

B&W Y-12 officials were not able to immediately respond to the NNSA recommendation on Friday afternoon.

WSI Oak Ridge, also known as Wackenhut Services and G4S Government Solutions, now provides about 500 security guards at Y-12. The company has been the security contractor at the plant, which makes parts for every weapon in the nation’s nuclear arsenal, since 2000.

While recommending a contract termination for WSI, the NNSA has given B&W Y-12 a one-month contract extension. The B&W contract had been set to expire Sunday.

On Aug. 10, B&W Y-12 was notified that it could lose its contract. That “show cause” notice gave the contractor 30 days to explain why its contract should not be terminated.

“While we recognize that both B&W Y-12 and WSI-OR have undertaken corrective actions, neither these actions nor the response to the show cause notice are enough, at this point, to fully resolve the issues,” Jill Y. Albaugh, NNSA Production Office contracting officer, said in the Friday letter.

Although B&W Y-12’s response to the show cause was not deemed sufficient, McConaha said discussions continue between federal officials and that contractor.

“It was clear that we did not need to wait for that process to wrap up regarding WSI,” he said, although he didn’t give more information.

Y-12 National Security Complex

Contractor WSI Oak Ridge, which could lose its contract, has provided security personnel at the Y-12 National Security Complex since 2000, and there are now about 500 guards at the 811-acre plant.

Albaugh made the recommendation to end the WSI contract in the Friday letter, which was written to B&W Y-12 President and General Manager Charles G. Spencer. She said it would assure the best performance of physical security operations and help transition to a new consolidated management contract at Y-12 and the Pantex Plant near Amarillo, Texas.

“This decision comes after the top leadership of WSI at Y-12 were removed and are no longer welcome at DOE sites,” an NNSA statement said. “The officers associated with the incident were fired, demoted, or suspended without pay. Additionally, three federal officials with security oversight responsibilities were reassigned.”

On Aug. 31, B&W Y-12 notified WSI that its contract could be terminated “for default” if the company didn’t take action to address security concerns, including the July security breach and an incident on Aug. 29, when a federal inspector allegedly found papers in a patrol vehicle that weren’t supposed to be shared. The papers included answers to a test scheduled to be given to guards as part of an investigation after the security breach and a copy of a test designed to quiz a random sample of a few dozen guards on policies and procedures.

WSI later announced that it had investigated the incident and found that its employees hadn’t intended to do anything wrong.

On Friday, WSI Oak Ridge Public Affairs Manager Courtney Henry said the company hadn’t received official notification of the NNSA and DOE recommendation to terminate its contract.

Federal officials have repeated an August statement by Energy Secretary Steven Chu that the Y-12 security breach was completely unacceptable.

“The security of our nation’s nuclear material is the department’s most important responsibility, and we have no tolerance for federal or contractor personnel who cannot or will not do their jobs,” the NNSA statement said.

It said NNSA and DOE have taken strong and decisive action to fix the problems that led to the security breach and are reviewing security operations at all levels from contractors to federal management to the security model itself.

“The final review in that series will begin shortly when the secretary asks observers outside the department to analyze the current model for protection of nuclear materials and explore additional options for protecting these sites,” the statement said.

One review by the DOE Office of Health, Safety, and Security has been completed. The classified report was delivered to Chu this week. It reinforced the seriousness of the incident, and it will help improve security at Y-12 and across the department, the NNSA statement said.

McConaha said there is no timeline for determining whether to end the B&W Y-12 contract. However, there is an early November goal to announce an award that would combine the management and operations contracts at Y-12 and Pantex.

McConaha said he couldn’t confirm details on the bidders.

During the July 28 security breach, three activists allegedly sneaked into Y-12 before dawn, cut through fences with bolt cutters, evaded guards, and spray-painted slogans and splashed human blood on the Highly Enriched Uranium Materials Facility, where bomb-grade uranium is stored. It’s the nation’s primary storehouse for enriched uranium.

The three protesters—Greg Boertje-Obed, Megan Rice, and Michael R. Walli—face a Feb. 26, 2013, trial in U.S. District in Knoxville on federal charges of property destruction, property depredation, and trespassing.

The intrusion has led to a string of staff changes in federal and contractor work forces, a series of investigations, a reassignment of the protective forces contract from NNSA to B&W Y-12, a temporary halt in nuclear operations, and congressional hearings.