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

Posted at 6:04 pm October 1, 2012
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

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.

Filed Under: U.S. Department of Energy, Y-12 Security Breach Tagged With: B&W Y-12, contract termination, G4S Government Solutions, protective force, security breach, Wackenhut, WSI Oak Ridge, Y-12 National Security Complex

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

Posted at 8:58 pm September 28, 2012
By John Huotari 2 Comments

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.”

Filed Under: U.S. Department of Energy, Y-12 Security Breach Tagged With: B&W Y-12, contract termination, National Nuclear Security Administration, NNSA, security breach, WSI Oak Ridge, Y-12 National Security Complex

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

Posted at 2:57 pm September 28, 2012
By John Huotari 1 Comment

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.

Filed Under: U.S. Department of Energy, Y-12 Security Breach Tagged With: B&W Y-12, DOE, National Nuclear Security Administration, NNSA, security breach, U.S. Department of Energy, WSI Oak Ridge, Y-12 National Security Complex

National Nuclear Security Administration honors Y-12 employees

Posted at 12:04 pm September 27, 2012
By John Huotari 1 Comment

NNSA Y-12 Awards

B&W Y-12 and National Nuclear Security Administration officials hand out plaques during a Sept. 18 awards ceremony. (Photo submitted by B&W Y-12)

A National Nuclear Security Administration official recently visited the Y-12 National Security Complex to present Defense Programs Awards of Excellence.

Fifteen teams that included about 275 Y-12 federal and contractor employees were recognized, a press release said.

Joseph Oder, director of NNSA’s Office of Nuclear Weapons Stockpile, pictured at center in the photo at left, presented the awards with Mark Padilla, NNSA Production Office assistant manager for programs and projects, who is pictured at right in the photo, and Joe Henry, chief operating officer of B&W Y-12.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: B&W Y-12, Defense Programs Awards of Excellence, National Nuclear Security Administration, NNSA, Y-12 National Security Complex

B&W Y-12 names new deputy general manager for operations

Posted at 7:10 pm September 25, 2012
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

David Richardson

David Richardson

The Y-12 National Security Complex has a new deputy general manager for operations, B&W Y-12 announced Tuesday.

The new manager, David Richardson, will be one of three deputy general managers at Y-12.

Richardson has the same job title as William R. Klemm, a former deputy general manager of operations who retired in August, a few weeks after an unprecedented July 28 security breach. However, Richardson’s range of job duties will be narrower than Klemm’s, allowing him to focus on nuclear operations.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: U.S. Department of Energy, Y-12 Security Breach Tagged With: B&W Y-12, Chuck Spencer, David Richardson, security breach, William R. Klemm, Y-12 National Security Complex

Ohio Republican introduces bill to transfer nuclear facility security to military

Posted at 4:01 pm September 22, 2012
By John Huotari 2 Comments

Mike Turner

Mike Turner

The chair of the U.S. House Subcommittee on Strategic Forces has introduced legislation that would put the military in charge of security of nuclear weapons and special nuclear materials at certain federal sites, including the Y-12 National Security Complex.

The legislation is in response to the unprecedented July 28 security breach at Y-12, according to a press release from U.S. Rep. Mike Turner, an Ohio Republican.

Security at Y-12, including security systems and personnel, has been provided by contractors B&W Y-12 and WSI Oak Ridge.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: U.S. Department of Energy, Y-12 Security Breach Tagged With: B&W Y-12, Greg Boertje-Obed, Highly Enriched Uranium Materials Facility, Megan Rice, Michael R. Walli, Mike Turner, National Nuclear Safety Administration, NNSA, security breach, U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. House Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, WSI Oak Ridge, Y-12 National Security Complex

No intentional wrongdoing in Y-12 test question distribution, WSI Oak Ridge says

Posted at 8:25 pm September 18, 2012
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Note: This story was updated at 9:58 a.m. Sept. 19.

WSI Oak Ridge workers did not intend to do anything wrong when test questions associated with a federal inspection were distributed to employees in August, the company said in a statement Tuesday.

The test questions and other information were allegedly found in a patrol vehicle on Aug. 29. They were part of a federal investigation after the July 28 security breach at the Y-12 National Security Complex, and they were not supposed to be shared, a U.S. Department of Energy official said earlier this month.

In its statement Tuesday, WSI Oak Ridge said its investigation, which used independent legal counsel, found that the distribution of the papers was not meant to help employees that could have been tested.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: U.S. Department of Energy, Y-12 Security Breach Tagged With: B&W Y-12, DOE Office of Health Safety and Security, John Garrity, test questions, U.S. Department of Energy, WSI Oak Ridge, Y-12 National Security Complex, Y-12 Protective Force

B&W Y-12 donates $15,000 to Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge

Posted at 8:20 pm September 18, 2012
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

B&W Y-12 recently donated $15,000 to the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge, a press release said.

The money will be used to turn the museum’s current space exhibit into a “Rocket Room,” taking children on an imaginary trip to Mars. An existing model rocket at the museum will be refurbished, and new interactive activities will bring outer space to preschoolers and other young children, the release said.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: B&W Y-12, Children's Museum of Oak Ridge, Rocket Room

B&W Y-12 says it has made compelling case to keep contract

Posted at 4:44 pm September 12, 2012
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Chuck Spencer

Chuck Spencer

Six weeks after an unprecedented security breach, B&W Y-12 said in a press release Wednesday that is has demonstrated a compelling case to federal officials to let it keep managing and operating the Y-12 National Security Complex.

“The July 28 event brought to light gaps in our maintenance and security operations, and we are using it as a catalyst for a comprehensive and objective examination of all our operations,” said B&W Y-12 President and General Manager Chuck Spencer.

During the July 28 security breach, three unarmed anti-nuclear weapons activists allegedly sneaked into Y-12, evaded guards, cut fences, penetrated a high-security area, and spray-painted slogans and splashed human blood on the Highly Enriched Uranium Materials Facility, where bomb-grade uranium is stored.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: U.S. Department of Energy, Y-12 Security Breach Tagged With: B&W Y-12, Chuck Spencer, National Nuclear Security Administration, security breach, WSI Oak Ridge, Y-12 National Security Complex

B&W Y-12 considering what information to release from ‘show cause’ response

Posted at 8:46 am September 11, 2012
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Note: This story was updated at 9:10 a.m.

Monday was the deadline for B&W Y-12 to respond to an Aug. 10 “show cause” letter from the National Nuclear Security Administration. That letter, which followed a July 28 security breach, gave the company 30 days to explain why its contract should not be terminated.

B&W Y-12 did not immediately release its response Monday.

“B&W Y-12 is determining whether we’ll be able to release information contained in the response,” the company said in a statement. “Additionally, it’s only appropriate to allow NNSA some time to consider the document before any content is released to the public.”

[Read more…]

Filed Under: U.S. Department of Energy, Y-12 Security Breach Tagged With: B&W Y-12, National Nuclear Security Administration, NNSA, security breach, show cause

WSI reassigns Y-12 security director after test questions found in patrol vehicle

Posted at 1:06 am September 6, 2012
By John Huotari 2 Comments

Note: This story was updated at 1:49 p.m. Sept. 6.

The new director of the protective force at the Y-12 National Security Complex has been reassigned after a federal inspector allegedly found papers in a patrol vehicle that included answers to a test scheduled to be given to guards as part of an investigation following an unprecedented July 28 security breach.

A U.S. Department of Energy official said the stack of papers found last week also included a copy of a test designed to quiz a random sample of a few dozen guards on policies and procedures, as well as a “post check” interview sheet. The “post checks” question security officers on procedures and performance tests, such as deploying gas masks. The papers were not supposed to be shared, said the DOE official, speaking on background.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: U.S. Department of Energy, Y-12 Security Breach Tagged With: B&W Y-12, Bobby Mullins, DOE Office of Health Safety and Security, Energy Secretary Steven Chu, HSS, inspection, investigation, John Garrity, security breach, U.S. Department of Energy, WSI Oak Ridge, Y-12 National Security Complex, Y-12 Protective Force

B&W Y-12 notifies WSI Oak Ridge of possible contract termination

Posted at 12:51 am September 5, 2012
By John Huotari 3 Comments

WSI Oak Ridge could lose its security contract at the Y-12 National Security Complex if it doesn’t take action to address recent security concerns, B&W Y-12 announced Tuesday.

WSI received a notice of a potential contract termination “for default” on Aug. 31, two days after an unspecified Aug. 29 “on-site personnel incident” that allegedly involved a WSI staff member. However, B&W Y-12 didn’t provide more details in a press release it sent out Tuesday.

“At no time during the personnel incident was there risk to the Y-12 employees, community, or to the special nuclear materials,” the release said.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: U.S. Department of Energy, Y-12 Security Breach Tagged With: B&W Y-12, Highly Enriched Uranium Materials Facility, National Nuclear Security Administration, show cause notice, U.S. Department of Energy Inspector General, WSI Oak Ridge, Y-12 National Security Complex

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