Oak Ridge Today

Secretary Chu: Y-12 security breach ‘unacceptable,’ guards suspended

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Steven Chu

Steven Chu

U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu said guards involved in an unprecedented security breach at the Y-12 National Security Complex last week have been suspended, and the general manager of the contractor protective force has been removed.

Two members of the general manager’s leadership team have also been removed from their positions, Chu said in a statement.

In addition, a federal official at the site has been temporarily reassigned, pending the outcome of the investigation into the July 28 intrusion into the high-security Protected Area on the west end of Y-12 by three anti-nuclear weapons activists, Chu said.

“The Department has no tolerance for security breaches at any of our sites, and I am committed to ensuring that those responsible will be held accountable,” Chu said.

Chu did not name the suspended guards or the employees who have been removed or reassigned.

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Y-12 protesters face new felony charges, judge releases two

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Note: This story was last updated at 1:14 p.m. Aug. 4.

KNOXVILLE—New felony property destruction charges were filed Friday against three anti-nuclear weapons activists who allegedly sneaked into the Y-12 National Security Complex on Saturday, and U.S. Magistrate Judge C. Clifford Shirley agreed to release two of the defendants.

The new charges carry stiffer penalties than the previously filed misdemeanor trespassing charges, including up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.

The new charges were filed against Greg Boertje-Obed, Megan Rice, and Michael R. Walli, who have been detained at the Blount County Corrections Facility after being arrested at about 4:30 a.m. Saturday in the high-security Protected Area on the west end of Y-12.

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At one-year anniversary, UCOR says K-25 demolition ahead of schedule

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K-25 Demolition

Demolition is almost complete on most of the K-25 Building’s east wing, and the project is ahead of schedule. (Photos submitted by UCOR)

UCOR celebrated its first anniversary as the U.S. Department of Energy cleanup contractor in Oak Ridge this week, and the company announced that its most high-profile project, demolition of the K-25 Building, is ahead of schedule.

Demolition of most of the building’s east wing is almost complete, and more than 10,000 loads of debris have been shipped off for disposal, UCOR said in a press release.

Located in west Oak Ridge, the K-25 site was built to enrich uranium during World War II as part of the top-secret Manhattan Project, but it’s been shut down since 1987.

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ORNL awarded $1 million for battery research

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Oak Ridge National Laboratory is expected to receive about $1 million for battery research as part of a national project to improve the storage of energy.

The grants were announced Thursday by the U.S. Department of Energy, which announced a total of $43 million for 19 projects across the country.

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Y-12 protesters plead not guilty, face Oct. 9 trial

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Greg Boertje-Obed

Greg Boertje-Obed

Megan Rice

Megan Rice

Michael Walli

Michael Walli

KNOXVILLE—Three anti-nuclear weapons activists accused of illegally crossing four fences to get into a high-security area at the Y-12 National Security Complex pleaded not guilty Thursday to federal misdemeanor trespassing charges.

An Oct. 9 trial date was set for the three defendants, and U.S. Magistrate Judge C. Clifford Shirley scheduled a Friday afternoon hearing to help determine whether they should continue to be detained.

The three defendants—Michael R. Walli, 63, of Washington, D.C.; Megan Rice, 82, of New York; and Greg Boertje-Obed, 57, of Duluth, Minn.—have been jailed at the Blount County Corrections Facility.

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Plan to cut Y-12 staff hasn’t changed despite security breach

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Transform Now Plowshares

The breach of a high-security area at the Y-12 National Security Complex by the three anti-nuclear weapons activists pictured above has not changed plans to cut up to 34 security officers. From left to right, the three are Michael R. Walli, Megan Rice, and Greg Boertje-Obed.

The plan to cut up to 34 security police officer jobs at the Y-12 National Security Complex hasn’t changed, despite a breach of a high-security area early Saturday morning by three anti-nuclear weapons activists, a federal spokesman said Wednesday.

Steven Wyatt, spokesman for the National Nuclear Security Administration, said the decision is not being re-evaluated.

“The size of the protective force is determined through a comprehensive process that considers a number of factors, which have not changed since the decision to reduce the size of the protective forces was made,” Wyatt said in a Wednesday evening e-mail.

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Nuclear operations halted at Y-12 National Security Complex

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All nuclear operations have been halted at the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge, a federal spokesman said Wednesday.

The unprecedented security “stand down” occurred after three activists breached the plant’s high-security area on Saturday and after an internal review by B&W Y-12 and the National Nuclear Security Administration found procedural violations, NNSA spokesman Steven Wyatt said.

“Once we found those, B&W decided it was prudent to stand down operations,” Wyatt said. B&W Y-12 manages and operates Y-12 for the NNSA.

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Security ‘stand down’ starts at Y-12 National Security Complex

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Federal officials on Wednesday afternoon announced a security “stand down” at the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge.

It’s a result of the the ongoing internal review of Y-12 security operations, according to a press release from the National Nuclear Security Administration.

During the “stand down,” all special nuclear materials will be moved to vault-type facilities on site, all nuclear operations will be halted, and contractor security personnel will undergo training and refresher instruction, the release said.

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Zacharia leaving top ORNL job for Qatar Foundation

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Thomas Zacharia

Thomas Zacharia

Thomas Zacharia, a top administrator at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, is leaving to take a leadership position at a science and education foundation based in Doha, Qatar.

Zacharia, ORNL deputy for science and technology, will become executive vice president of research and development for the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development.

He starts Sept. 1.

He has worked for the lab for 26 years.

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Activists who sneaked into Y-12 waive detention hearing, remain jailed

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Transform Now Plowshares

Three activists opposed to nuclear weapons pose with banners before their arrests on Saturday at the Y-12 National Security Complex. From left to right, the three are Michael R. Walli, Megan Rice, and Greg Boertje-Obed. (Submitted photo)

Three anti-nuclear weapons activists facing federal trespassing charges after sneaking into a high-security area at the Y-12 National Security Complex on Saturday have waived a detention hearing, meaning they will remain jailed for now, a court representative said Monday.

The three Plowshares activists are Michael R. Walli, 63, of Washington, D.C.; Megan Rice, 82, of New York; and Greg Boertje-Obed, 57, of Duluth, Minn. They have been jailed at the Blount County Corrections Facility.

The federal trespassing charges reportedly carry potential sentences of up to one year in prison and one year of supervised release as well as a maximum $100,000 fine. Supporters and officials have said other charges are possible.

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ORNL researchers start wireless network company

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ORNL Radio Channel Simulator Software

Oak Ridge National Laboratory researchers Phani Teja Kuruganti, left, and James Nutaro develop the Radio Channel Simulator software. (Photo submitted by ORNL)

A Tennessee company has licensed award-winning software from Oak Ridge National Laboratory that will help industries install wireless networks more cost-effectively in challenging environments such as mines, offshore drilling platforms, and factories, a press release said.

The company is called Networcsim, and it was founded by ORNL researchers Phani Teja Kuruganti and James Nutaro.

The two signed an agreement Friday to license the Radio Channel Simulator software, which won an R&D 100 Award this month.

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UCOR and United Way enjoy special showing at Oak Ridge Playhouse

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UCOR and UWAC at Playhouse

Cleanup contractor UCOR and the United Way of Anderson County enjoy a special showing of Damn Yankees at the Oak Ridge Playhouse. (Submitted photo)

UCOR, the federal cleanup contractor in Oak Ridge, hosted a special performance of “Damn Yankees” at the Oak Ridge Playhouse earlier this month in celebration of the company’s first year of work at the East Tennessee Technology Park.

The performance was for more than 220 staff members, friends, and colleagues.

Also attending the special showing was the United Way of Anderson County Pillar Society, a group of more than 120 leadership donors who have contributed $1,000 or more each year to the United Way, a UWAC press release said.

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