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With shutdown looming, DOE expects to keep operating for now

Posted at 12:45 pm September 30, 2013
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

U.S. Department of Energy Forrestal Building

With a potential government shutdown looming, U.S. Department of Energy employees are expected to continue working unless there is a lapse in appropriations and all available money is spent. Pictured above is DOE’s Forrestal Building in Washington, D.C. (Photo courtesy DOE)

Although a federal government shutdown is looming, the U.S. Department of Energy expects federal employees to continue reporting for work unless there is a lapse in appropriations and all available money is spent.

“Each component of DOE will continue to operate until prior year balances for funding of federal employees is exhausted,” DOE said in a guide posted on its website. “Their operations under those circumstances will be somewhat modified. For example, travel will generally be curtailed. DOE has some limited transfer and reprogramming authority, which may enable DOE to extend the number of days of funding available in some limited cases.”

The guide said operations will stop once prior-year balances have been spent at most DOE facilities. There would be exceptions for functions related to the safety of human life and protection of property. [Read more…]

Filed Under: East Tennessee Technology Park, Federal, Government, National Nuclear Security Administration, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge Office, Office of Scientific and Technical Information, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy, Y-12 National Security Complex Tagged With: appropriations, Barack Obama, Congress, Democrats, DOE, federal employees, funding, furloughs, government shutdown, health care law, House, medical isotope, National Nuclear Security Administration, naval reactors, non-proliferation, nuclear weapons, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, ORNL, Republicans, Senate, shutdown, Thom Mason, U.S. Department of Energy, UT-Battelle

ORNL employees to work Tuesday even if federal government shuts down

Posted at 2:01 pm September 27, 2013
By John Huotari 3 Comments

Thom Mason

Thom Mason

It’s still not clear if Congress will pass a budget and keep the government open past midnight Monday, but UT-Battelle employees should report to work Tuesday even if the government shuts down, Oak Ridge National Laboratory Director Thom Mason said.

Mason addressed the potential government shutdown in a message on staff cuts that he sent to employees Thursday morning.

Mason said ORNL has enough funding to continue operations even if federal employees have to stop work on Oct. 1. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Federal, Government, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Top Stories Tagged With: Barack Obama, budget, government, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, ORNL, spending bill, Thom Mason

Fiscal prudence requires ORNL to prepare for smaller budgets, director says

Posted at 5:14 pm September 26, 2013
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Thom Mason

Thom Mason

Many budget questions remain unresolved heading into the fiscal year that starts Oct. 1 and there could be another $100 million drop in funding, so Oak Ridge National Laboratory is implementing plans to further reduce overhead spending and opening a voluntary separation program that could reduce the workforce by up to 475 jobs, Director Thom Mason said Thursday.

Employees can apply for the Voluntary Separation Program, or VSP, from Oct. 1 to Nov. 14. Those employees who are accepted will leave the payroll by Dec. 31.

Lab officials emphasized that they hope the number of staff cuts is smaller than 475. ORNL has about 4,400 to 4,500 employees. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Federal, Government, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: budget, fiscal prudence, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, ORNL, Thom Mason, workforce reduction

ORNL could trim staff by up to 475, but officials hope for fewer cuts

Posted at 3:24 pm September 26, 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 of Oak Ridge National Laboratory/U.S. Department of Energy)

With the federal budget under pressure, Oak Ridge National Laboratory has permission to reduce its staff by up to 475 employees, but officials hope they don’t have to make that many cuts.

The workforce reduction could come through what is known as a voluntary separation program, or VSP. Those who apply and are accepted would leave the payroll Dec. 31, ORNL Communications Director David Keim said Thursday.

Keim said the lab had to ask the U.S. Department of Energy for permission to make the cuts, and ORNL sought the highest number of possible reductions. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: budget, budget debate, David Keim, DOE, employee, Fiscal Year 2014, layoffs, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Office of Science, ORNL, overhead, reduction, U.S. Department of Energy, UT-Battelle, voluntary separation program, VSP, workforce reduction

UT receives DOE funds, ORNL help for spent nuclear fuel studies

Posted at 10:05 am September 26, 2013
By University of Tennessee Leave a Comment

KNOXVILLE—The question of what to do with spent nuclear fuel in the U.S. has never been definitively answered. A University of Tennessee in Knoxville professor has received funding from the U.S. Department of Energy to develop new capabilities for evaluating potential alternatives to directly disposing of used fuel.

The award is part of the DOE’s 2013 Nuclear Energy University Programs which is awarding $42 million to 38 American universities and colleges for nuclear energy research and development projects focused on developing innovative solutions.

A proposal by Steven Skutnik, assistant professor in nuclear engineering, was awarded $755,000 to develop new capabilities for a fuel cycle simulator called CYCLUS by building on an Oak Ridge National Laboratory software package for nuclear fuel modeling called ORIGEN. [Read more…]

Filed Under: College, Education, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Science, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: CYCLUS, flexible reactor analysis module, National Nuclear Laboratory, NEUP, Nuclear Energy, Nuclear Energy University Programs, nuclear engineering, nuclear fuel, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, ORIGEN, ORNL, reactor, research and development, software, spent nuclear fuel, Steven Skutnik, University of Tennessee, used fuel, UT, waste, Yucca Mountain

TVA designates Oak Ridge a ‘platinum’ community

Posted at 7:36 pm September 25, 2013
By City of Oak Ridge Leave a Comment

The City of Oak Ridge has achieved platinum status in the Tennessee Valley Authority’s new “Valley Sustainable Communities” program. This designation will enhance the city’s competitiveness for new investments and jobs when companies are looking to grow in new or expanded locations.

The program is sponsored by TVA and developed and administered by consultant Boyette Strategic Advisors.

“The platinum designation recognizes that the Oak Ridge community has made a significant and comprehensive commitment to sustainability and also has thoroughly integrated economic development into its sustainability efforts,” said Del Boyette, BSA president and chief executive officer. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Federal, Government, Oak Ridge, Top Stories Tagged With: bike, Boyette Strategic Advisors, climate action, Del Boyette, greenways, Horizon Center Business Park, investments, jobs, John Bradley, Mark Watson, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, parks, pedestrian, solar farm, Tennessee Valley Authority, Tom Beehan, TVA, Valley Sustainable Communities

UT-Battelle builds second home for ADFAC

Posted at 12:00 pm September 24, 2013
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

ADFAC UT-Battelle Home

Annie Cacheiro, right, executive director of Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties, and Thom Mason, director of Oak Ridge National Laboratory, speak at a dedication for a home built by volunteers on Jay Lane.

Volunteers from UT-Battelle have completed their second home in two years for ADFAC, a nonprofit agency that helps low-income residents.

Officials and volunteers celebrated last week with a ceremony at the new single-story, two-bedroom home on Jay Lane.

“It’s a blessing,” said Emily Mitchell, 24, the new homeowner. “I know I couldn’t do it on my own.”

Mitchell, who has a two-year-old daughter, now lives on Van Hicks Place. She is the family self-sufficiency coordinator for the Oak Ridge Housing Authority. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Nonprofits, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Top Stories Tagged With: ADFAC, Affordable Housing Program, Ann Weaver, Annie Cacheiro, Bronzie Harris, Emily Mitchell, home, Jay Lane, Kahla Gentry, Oak Ridge Housing Authority, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Team UT-Battelle, Thom Mason, UT-Battelle

Professor to discuss embryos; ‘troubled ground’ between science, society

Posted at 7:00 am September 24, 2013
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Jane Maienschein

Jane Maienschein

The 16th Annual Dick Smyser Community Lecture Series on Thursday, Oct. 3, will feature Professor Jane Maienschein, director of the Center for Biology and Society at Arizona State University.

She will give a talk titled “Embryos Under the Microscope: Negotiating Contested Ground Between Science and Society.”

The event is sponsored by Friends of ORNL. It is free of charge and will be held at the American Museum of Science and Energy at 300 S. Tulane Ave. in Oak Ridge. [Read more…]

Filed Under: College, Community, Education, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Top Stories Tagged With: American Museum of Science and Energy, Arizona State University, Center for Biology and Society, developmental biology, Dick Smyser Community Lecture Series, embryo, Embryos Under the Microscope: Negotiating Contested Ground Between Science and Society, fetus, Friends of ORNL, Jane Maienschein, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, ORNL

ORNL, UT receive Energy Department awards for nuclear training, technologies

Posted at 7:00 am September 23, 2013
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

The U.S. Department of Energy on Friday announced more than $60 million in nuclear energy research awards and improvements to university research reactors and infrastructure, including about $1.5 million to Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the University of Tennessee.

The 91 awards are meant to help train and educate the next generation of leaders in America’s nuclear industry as well as support new and advanced nuclear technologies from reactor materials to innovative sensors and instruments to more efficient manufacturing, DOE said in a press release. [Read more…]

Filed Under: College, Education, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: Barack Obama, DOE, Ernest Moniz, NEUP, Nuclear Energy, Nuclear Energy University Programs, nuclear industry, nuclear technologies, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, ORNL, research award, research reactors, training, U.S. Department of Energy, University of Tennessee, UT

UCOR names new chief operating officer

Posted at 2:24 pm September 18, 2013
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Matt Marston

Matt Marston

UCOR, the U.S. Department of Energy’s cleanup contractor in Oak Ridge, has picked Matt Marston as its new chief operating officer.

Marston will replace Kenneth Rueter, who was recently named as the new president and project manager at the Savannah River Remediation Project, a press release said.

It said Marston joined the UCOR team as manager of project support for the Deactivation and Decommissioning, or D&D, group in September 2011. He led an organization of project support staff that included engineering, planning, radiological protection, characterization, environmental compliance, waste management, industrial safety, industrial hygiene, and procurement personnel. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, East Tennessee Technology Park, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy, Y-12 National Security Complex Tagged With: CH2M Oak Ridge LLC, chief operating officer, D&D, Deactivation and Decommissioning, DOE, East Tennessee Technology Park, ETTP, K-25, Kenneth Rueter, Leo Sain, manager, Matt Marston, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Savannah River Remediation Project, TSSD Services Inc., U.S. Department of Energy, UCOR, URS, Y-12 National Security Complex

IIa wins $24 million federal contract to operate defense information center

Posted at 11:23 am September 16, 2013
By Oak Ridge Today Staff 2 Comments

Information International Associates Inc. announced Monday that it has been awarded a $24 million federal contract to operate the Homeland Defense and Security Information Analysis Center, or HDIAC. IIa will operate the center for the U.S. Department of Defense’s Defense Technical Information Center, or DTIC.

A press release said the work will focus on research and analysis in eight major Homeland Defense disciplines: homeland defense and security; critical infrastructure protection; weapons of mass destruction; chemical, biological, radiologic, and nuclear defense; biometrics; medical; cultural studies; and alternative energy. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Federal, Government, Oak Ridge, Office of Scientific and Technical Information, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: Bonnie C. Carroll, contract, DTIC, HDIAC, Homeland Defense and Security Information Analysis Center, Information International Associates Inc., Northrop Grumman Information Systems, Oak Ridge Associated Universities, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Office of Scientific and Technical Information, OSTI, SciTech Services, TASC, U.S. Department of Defense's Defense Technical Information Center, U.S. Department of Energy

ORNL’s Stuart Daw elected chemical engineering fellow

Posted at 12:26 pm September 13, 2013
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Stuart Daw

Stuart Daw

C. Stuart Daw of Oak Ridge National Laboratory has been elected fellow of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers.

He was selected by AIChE for his numerous outstanding contributions to the chemical engineering profession.

Daw, a UT-Battelle Corporate Fellow, works in the U.S. Department of Energy lab’s Energy and Transportation Science Division. He lives in Knoxville.

Filed Under: Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Science, Top Stories Tagged With: AIChE, American Institute of Chemical Engineers, C. Stuart Daw, Energy and Transportation Science Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, U.S. Department of Energy, UT-Battelle

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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...]

Public Notice: NNSA announces no significant impact of Y-12 Development Organization operations at Horizon Center

AVAILABILITY OF THE FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR THE OFFSITE HOUSING OF THE Y-12 DEVELOPMENT … [Read More...]

ADFAC seeks contractors for five homes

Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties (ADFAC) is a non-profit community based agency, … [Read More...]

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