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Reactor shutdown affects experiments, isotope production at HFIR

Posted at 9:34 am November 29, 2018
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

The High Flux Isotope Reactor vessel at Oak Ridge National Laboratory resides in a pool of water illuminated by the blue glow of the Cherenkov radiation effect. (Photo courtesy ORNL)

The High Flux Isotope Reactor vessel at Oak Ridge National Laboratory resides in a pool of water illuminated by the blue glow of the Cherenkov radiation effect. (Photo courtesy ORNL)

 

Experiments and isotope production have been affected, but employees are still able to carry out their normal duties at the High Flux Isotope Reactor as the U.S. Department of Energy investigates a slightly elevated radiation level in HFIR’s primary cooling system.

The High Flux Isotope Reactor, which is used for research and isotope production, is at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

In a response to questions on Wednesday, ORNL Communications Director David Keim said the slightly elevated reading in the primary cooling system was well below alarm levels.

“The HFIR operators promptly responded to the reading and placed the reactor in a safe condition,” Keim said. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: cooling system, David Keim, DOE, elevated radiation level, HFIR, High Flux Isotope Reactor, isotope production, isotopes, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, ORNL, radiation level, research, U.S. Department of Energy

ORNL investigating elevated radiation in HFIR cooling system

Posted at 11:02 pm November 21, 2018
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

The High Flux Isotope Reactor vessel at Oak Ridge National Laboratory resides in a pool of water illuminated by the blue glow of the Cherenkov radiation effect. (Photo courtesy ORNL)

The High Flux Isotope Reactor vessel at Oak Ridge National Laboratory resides in a pool of water illuminated by the blue glow of the Cherenkov radiation effect. (Photo courtesy ORNL)

 

Oak Ridge National Laboratory is investigating an elevated radiation level in the cooling system at the High Flux Isotope Reactor, a research reactor that also produces isotopes.

Workers were bringing HFIR back online on Tuesday, November 13, after a planned outage when the elevated radiation level was detected in the cooling system, according to information provided by David Keim, ORNL communications director.

“HFIR operators decided to shut down the reactor in order to investigate and determine what happened,” Keim said. “The plant is in a safe condition.” [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: David Keim, elevated radiation level, HFIR, High Flux Isotope Reactor, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, ORNL, shutdown

UT-Battelle has to take corrective action, pay $120,000 after unauthorized disclosure of classified information

Posted at 1:26 pm September 11, 2017
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

UT-Battelle, which manages and operates Oak Ridge National Laboratory, has to take corrective actions and pay $120,000 for the unauthorized disclosure of classified information and the introduction of classified information into unapproved information systems at the lab, according to a settlement agreement with the U.S. Department of Energy that was approved in August.

The settlement agreement was for a security event discovered March 28, 2016. On that date, UT-Battelle discovered that presentations containing classified information had been processed on unapproved information systems during a roughly five-year period. The classified presentations were stored on unapproved servers, information systems, and removable electronic media, and transmitted by unauthorized means, according to the DOE Office of Enterprise Assessments’ Office of Enforcement.

In addition, classified information was visually presented to uncleared students on a specific program, including three foreign nationals from non-sensitive countries, DOE said.

The highest classification level and category of information contained in the presentations is Secret/Restricted Data, including No Foreign, said Steven C. Simonson, director of the Office of Enforcement. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: classified information, David Keim, DOE, DOE Office of Enterprise Assessments, DOE Office of Enterprise Assessments' Office of Enforcement, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, settlement agreement, Steven C. Simonson, Thomas Zacharia, U.S. Department of Energy, unauthorized disclosure of classified information, UT-Battelle

ORNL United Way campaign tops $900,000, an increase from 2015

Posted at 1:18 pm September 27, 2016
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

ornl-2016-united-way-campaign

Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s United Way campaign’s $900,000 “big check” with, from left, Ann Weaver, whose Facilities Management Division was the top special fundraiser; 2016 chair Sharon Kohler; co-chair Ken Tobin; Facilities and Operations Director Jimmy Stone, directorate challenge winner for large directorates; and David Keim, representing the Office of the Laboratory Director, the challenge winner for smaller directorates. (ORNL photo by Genevieve Martin)

 

The 2016 United Way campaign at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory raised $900,000—an increase of $30,000 over the 2015 campaign.

“This is a fantastic and generous offer of support from our employees, management, volunteers, and everyone who has been associated in one way or another with this year’s United Way effort,” said campaign chair Sharon Kohler.

The $900,000 total included a corporate contribution from UT-Battelle. Kohler credited the lab’s Leadership Givers, who contribute a certain percentage of their salary per pay period, for providing 65 percent of the total designated by staff through payroll deduction. There were 22 new Leadership Givers joining this year. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Front Page News, Nonprofits, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: 2016 United Way campaign, Ann Weaver, David Keim, Genevieve Martin, Jimmy Stone, Ken Tobin, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, ORNL, Sharon Kohler, U.S. Department of Energy, United Way, UT-Battelle

Chamber supports AMSE land transfer resolution

Posted at 11:03 am June 13, 2016
By John Huotari 8 Comments

AMSE-Manhattan-Project-Park-Nov-12-2015

The American Museum of Science and Energy is pictured above on November 15, 2015. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was updated at 8:50 a.m. June 14.

The Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce supports a resolution that would allow the city manager to negotiate with business executives and federal officials to transfer about 17 acres of federal property at the American Museum of Science and Energy to help Main Street Oak Ridge, the project to redevelop the former Oak Ridge Mall.

The Oak Ridge City Council will consider the land transfer resolution during a meeting tonight (Monday, June 13). Under that resolution, the 17.12 acres could either be transferred to the city or to RealtyLink, the company redeveloping the mall. The transfer would also include 1.87 acres of city-owned land that are on the north, south, and west sides of the AMSE property.

On Friday, Chamber of Commerce President Parker Hardy said the Chamber supports the land transfer resolution.

“It’s entirely consistent with our overall support for the Main Street Oak Ridge project,” Hardy said. “This has been a long time getting here, and we’re proud to lend our support.” [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Community, Federal, Front Page News, Government, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: American Museum of Science and Energy, AMSE, AMSE land transfer, David Keim, DOE, Ellen Smith, General Services Administration, GSA, land transfer resolution, Main Street—Oak Ridge, Manhattan Project National Historical Park, Mark Watson, National Park Service, Neil Wilson, Oak Ridge Associated Universities, Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce, Oak Ridge City Center, Oak Ridge City Council, Oak Ridge Mall, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, ORNL, Parker Hardy, RealtyLink, tax increment financing, TIF, U.S. Department of Energy, Warren Gooch

Main Street: Ready to close by end of June, AMSE property the one remaining hurdle

Posted at 5:22 pm June 9, 2016
By John Huotari 25 Comments

The American Museum of Science and Energy property is pictured above in central Oak Ridge.

The American Museum of Science and Energy property is pictured above in central Oak Ridge. The wide road running vertically at center-right through the aerial photo is South Tulane Avenue. The proposed Main Street Oak Ridge would be on the right side of South Tulane Avenue at the former Oak Ridge Mall. The road running horizontally at bottom is South Illinois Avenue. AMSE is the brown-roofed building at top-center.

 

Note: This story was last updated at 8 p.m. June 13.

RealtyLink, the developer that has proposed redeveloping the former Oak Ridge Mall, says it is ready to close on the roughly 60-acre site by the end of June and start construction immediately, but there is one last hurdle: The company is concerned about any redevelopment of the property across the street at the American Museum of Science and Energy that could compete with its proposed project, known as Main Street Oak Ridge.

So, RealtyLink has asked that, if the federal government wants to dispose of the AMSE property at some point in the future, the city would negotiate with the U.S. Department of Energy through the General Services Administration to either have the property transferred to the city, or allow RealtyLink to negotiate directly with DOE and GSA for a property transfer.

The Oak Ridge City Council will consider a resolution allowing the city manager to start the negotiations, should they become necessary, during a meeting on Monday, June 13.

So far, DOE and GSA have not publicly announced plans to dispose of the 17.12 acres in and around AMSE. But there have been public discussions about what to do with the property during the past 15 years or so. DOE has said it is not in the museum business. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Business, Front Page News, Government, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge, Slider, Top Stories Tagged With: American Museum of Science and Energy, Anderson County Commission, David Keim, DOE, General Services Administration, GSA, IDB, Main Street—Oak Ridge, Manhattan Project National Historical Park, Mark Watson, Oak Ridge City Council, Oak Ridge Industrial Development Board, Oak Ridge Mall, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, ORNL, Ray Evans, RealtyLink, tax increment financing, TIF, U.S. Department of Energy

Community considers future of AMSE as Congress debates Manhattan Project park

Posted at 5:09 pm July 25, 2014
By Sara Wise Leave a Comment

David Moore and Mark Watson

During Thursday’s community meeting at AMSE, David Moore, left, said a few words about his background after being introduced by Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson, right. (Photos by Sara Wise)

 

The American Museum of Science and Energy Foundation teamed up with the City of Oak Ridge on Thursday to host the first of four community meetings meant to allow the community to have some input into the future of the museum, and how it might fit into the proposed Manhattan Project National Historical Park.

The first meeting was at the museum on Thursday night. It began with presentations that focused on providing information to help audience members make informed suggestions about the museum.

Oak Ridge National Laboratory Communication Director David Keim was among those who made presentations. He said that the museum attracted 71,500 visitors in 2013 and received $1.6 million in federal funding.

Keim explained why AMSE’s contract with Enterprise Advisory Services Inc. was allowed to run out June 30. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Community, East Tennessee Technology Park, Government, Nonprofits, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Slider, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy, Y-12 National Security Complex Tagged With: American Museum of Science and Energy, AMSE, AMSE Foundation, City of Oak Ridge, community meeting, David Keim, David Moore, DOE, Enterprise Advisory Services Inc., federal funding, Gerald Boyd, history, interactive exhibits, Manhattan Project, Manhattan Project National Historical Park, Mark Watson, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, ORNL, Ray Smith, Tom Beehan, U.S. Department of Energy, Wayne Stevenson, Y-12 National Security Comp

New AMSE director to start July 1, ORNL to operate museum

Posted at 12:21 pm June 26, 2014
By Sara Wise Leave a Comment

AMSE Sign

The American Museum of Science and Energy is on South Tulane Avenue. (Photos by Sara Wise)

 

Oak Ridge National Laboratory is taking a more active role in Oak Ridge’s American Museum of Science and Energy. ORNL’s Director of Communications David Keim said the lab hopes to find better ways to tell the city’s historical story while reducing costs.

He said that the museum’s current contract with Enterprise Advisory Services Inc. would not be renewed at the end of this month, when ORNL will begin operating AMSE. He said preparations are being made to ensure a seamless transition.

Keim said that the transition was made after a team of museum professionals came to the area. After seeing many of Oak Ridge’s historical sites, such as the former K-25 site and ORNL’s first graphite reactor, they called the sites “remarkable” and the historical story “enormous,” according to Keim.

One of the professionals recommended hiring another museum professional to help with the transition period. David Moore was interviewed and hired to assess the museum as a consultant on a one-year term for ORNL, beginning April 15. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: American Museum of Science and Energy, AMSE, Congress, David Keim, David Moore, EASI, East Tennessee Technology Park, Enterprise Advisory Services Inc., Graphite Reactor, historical sites, K-25 site, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Manhattan Project, Manhattan Project National Historical Park, MPi, museum, National Geographic, nonprofit foundation, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, ORNL, U.S. Department of Energy, Y-12 National Security Complex

ORNL equipment weighing 1,500 pounds falls on worker’s legs

Posted at 9:13 am April 25, 2014
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

A piece of surplus equipment that weighs more than 1,500 pounds tipped over and fell onto the legs of an Oak Ridge National Laboratory worker on March 31, fracturing both legs and breaking his thumb, a spokesman said.

When it tipped over, a few ORNL employees were loading the scattering chamber and cart onto the box truck of a person who had purchased the equipment at an auction, said David Keim, ORNL communications director.

A few metal arms that protrude from the scattering chamber might have hit the floor of the truck and created some space between the “deceptively heavy” piece of equipment and the worker’s legs, preventing even more serious injuries, Keim said. Also, the chamber and cart might have hit other equipment already loaded into the back of the truck, also helping to prevent more serious injuries. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: David Keim, Excess Property and Sales, loading dock, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, ORNL, Physics Division, scattering chamber, surplus equipment, Union Valley Road, University of Tennessee Medical Center

ORNL to lose 189 workers through voluntary separations by Dec. 31

Posted at 1:46 pm December 23, 2013
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge National Laboratory Central Campus

The Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s central campus is pictured above. (Courtesy Oak Ridge National Laboratory/U.S. Dept. of Energy)

One hundred eighty-nine employees at Oak Ridge National Laboratory will go off the payroll at the end of this month as part of a workforce reduction announced in September.

ORNL had received permission to reduce its staff by up to 475 employees, but in September, officials said they hoped they wouldn’t have to make that many cuts.

The voluntary separation program, or VSP, was part of the lab’s response to federal budget pressures. ORNL has also implemented other belt-tightening measures during the past few years. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Top Stories Tagged With: budget, David Keim, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, ORNL, staff, voluntary separation program, VSP, workforce reduction

AMSE’s operating contract with for-profit could be replaced by nonprofit

Posted at 9:27 am December 19, 2013
By John Huotari 1 Comment

American Museum of Science and Energy

The American Museum of Science and Energy on South Tulane Avenue in Oak Ridge is pictured above.

The contract with the for-profit company that runs the American Museum of Science and Energy will change from quarterly to monthly starting Jan. 1, and a museum expert could be hired on an interim basis to assess the museum, its place in the community, and a logical new operating structure.

The museum is now funded by the U.S. Department of Energy at a cost of about $1.5 to $1.6 million per year, said David Keim, communications director at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Revenues from the gift shop, admissions, and programs add up to about $300,000 per year.

But officials have long said that the department should not be operating the museum.

“It’s always been a government-funded operation,” Keim said. But, “DOE is not in the museum business.”

In June, a group of museum directors brought to Oak Ridge from around the country recommended that the museum be run by a community-based nonprofit organization—not DOE and not a for-profit company, Keim said. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: American Museum of Science and Energy, AMSE, AMSE Foundation, Amy Fitzgerald, atomic bombs, children's museum, Children's Museum of Oak Ridge, David Keim, DOE, EASI, Enterprise Advisory Services Inc., for-profit, Jeff Smith, Manhattan Project, Manhattan Project National Park, Mark Watson, museum, nonprofit, Oak Ridge Municipal Building, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, ORNL, Ray Smith, revenues, Secret City, Secret City Commemorative Walk, U.S. Department of Energy, UT-Battelle, World War II

ORNL wins 14 marketing, communications awards

Posted at 6:55 pm November 10, 2013
By Oak Ridge National Laboratory Leave a Comment

The Association of Marketing and Communication announced last week that Oak Ridge National Laboratory won eight platinum and six gold awards in its annual international competition.

The competition recognizes “outstanding creative achievement by marketing and communication professionals” and drew more than 6,500 entries, according to a MarCom release.

“Our designers, writers, and editors take great care in explaining and promoting ORNL’s contributions to scientific discovery, clean energy, and national security,” said David Keim, ORNL’s director of communications. “We hope this recognition draws more attention to the significant science our researchers and partners are conducting at ORNL.” [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Oak Ridge National Laboratory Tagged With: communications, David Keim, designers, editors, marketing, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, ORNL, writers

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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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