Oak Ridge Today

Trump nominates nuclear security leader, NNSA administrator

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President Donald Trump has nominated an under secretary for nuclear security in the U.S. Department of Energy, a position that includes serving as administrator of the National Nuclear Security Administration. The Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge is an NNSA site.

The nomination of Lisa Gordon-Hagerty was announced by the White House on Monday, December 11.

If confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Gordon-Hagerty would replace Frank G. Klotz, a retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant general who was confirmed by the Senate on April 8, 2014.

Gordon-Hagerty, of Virginia, is president of Tier Tech International Inc., a national security consulting company. She also serves as president of LEG Inc., providing strategic advice and counsel in domestic and national security issues, the White House said. [Read more…]

Eby seeks re-election to school board

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Bob Eby

Bob Eby

Bob Eby has qualified to run for re-election in November for the Oak Ridge Board of Education.

Eby, who is now the board’s vice chairman, is seeking his fourth term, having first been elected in 1985, again in 1991, and most recently in 2009. This is the first time Eby has run as an incumbent.

Eby was board chairman for two terms between 1991-1995, a press release said. Eby is a product of the Oak Ridge Schools (class of 1970), as is his wife of 40 years, Jean (class of 1971), his daughter Elizabeth (1998), and son William (2001).

Jean Eby is a retired teacher from the Oak Ridge Schools, having taught band, music, and third and fourth grade in the district for more than 30 years, the press release said. Most of her teaching career was at Linden Elementary School.

Bob Eby is the director for technology and process engineering for USEC Inc., and he also serves as Oak Ridge site manager for the company. He has bachelor’s and master’s degrees in chemical engineering from the University of Tennessee and completed The Executive Program from the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia. He is active in the business community, currently serving on the board of directors for the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce, the East Tennessee Economic Council, and the KFI, an organization dedicated for the benefit of the Ronald McDonald House in Knoxville. [Read more…]

DOE explores options for enriched uranium technology for national security

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American Centrifuge Technology Manufacturing Center

The American Centrifuge Technology Manufacturing Center in south Oak Ridge is pictured above. (Photos courtesy USEC)

USEC, UT-Battelle to preserve centrifuge enrichment capabilities on interim basis

USEC and UT-Battelle have signed a $33.7 million, five-month contract to continue operating centrifuges and conducting research and development activities on a uranium enrichment project deemed important for national security and possible commercial use.

The agreement with UT-Battelle, which manages Oak Ridge National Laboratory, was signed May 1. The five-month term ends Sept. 30. The new agreement includes options for two six-month extensions valued at about $41.7 million each. The total price of the contract with the options is roughly $117 million.

USEC, which is now an ORNL subcontractor, previously performed research, development, and demonstration work on the project, the American Centrifuge Project, under an agreement with the U.S. Department of Energy that had been in place since June 12, 2012. That cost-sharing agreement expired April 30. [Read more…]

USEC bankruptcy filing won’t affect daily operations in Oak Ridge, company says

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Centrifuge Machine Manufacturing

In Oak Ridge, USEC workers take part in centrifuge operations, testing, and manufacturing for the American Centrifuge Project. (Photos courtesy USEC)

The Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing and financial restructuring plan that USEC Inc. announced last week will not affect daily operations in Oak Ridge or the American Centrifuge Project, a company spokesman said Monday.

The bankruptcy filing and financial plan are a restructuring of the balance sheet of the parent company, USEC Inc., spokesman Paul Jacobson said. He said the company is trying to strengthen its balance sheet and be a stronger sponsor of the American Centrifuge Project, a “next-generation” U.S. uranium enrichment technology. USEC Inc. is a global energy company that is a leading supplier of enriched uranium fuel for commercial nuclear power plants.

The company currently has 304 people working on the centrifuge program in Tennessee. In Oak Ridge, workers take part in centrifuge operations, testing, and manufacturing.

“This plan for restructuring our debt and equity will have no effect on our employees, who will continue to receive paychecks and benefits in the ordinary course,” Jacobson said. “As we have communicated to our employees previously, some employees will be impacted by several ongoing initiatives that are unrelated to the restructuring.” [Read more…]

USEC names president of American Centrifuge Manufacturing

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USEC Inc. and The Babcock and Wilcox Co. on Thursday named Craig S. Hansen as president of American Centrifuge Manufacturing LLC.

In this position, Hansen will be responsible for management and operations of the American Centrifuge Technology and Manufacturing Center in Oak Ridge. [Read more…]

USEC donates to Emory Valley Center campaign

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USEC Donates to Emory Valley Center

Pictured above from left to right are Robin Biloski, Emory Valley Center development director; Dottie Thompson and Gene Caldwell, co-chairs of the EVC Capital Campaign; and Bob Eby of USEC Inc. (Submitted photo)

Emory Valley Center recently received a donation from USEC for its capital campaign to build a new facility on Emory Valley Road, a press release said.

“Emory Valley Center has always been such a vital part of our community in helping so many adults and children in our region,” said Bob Eby, director of Centrifuge Technology and Process Engineering of USEC in Oak Ridge. “All of us at USEC are so happy to play a part in providing a new center for the many who receive their services.” [Read more…]

USEC to cease uranium enrichment at Paducah Plant

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USEC Inc. announced Friday that it had not been able to conclude a deal for the short-term extension of uranium enrichment at the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant in Kentucky, and the company will begin ceasing uranium enrichment at the end of May. The Paducah plant is the only U.S.-owned and operated uranium enrichment facility in the United States. USEC, which has operations in Oak Ridge, leases the Kentucky plant from the U.S. Department of Energy.

“While we have pursued possible opportunities for continuing enrichment, DOE has concluded that there were not sufficient benefits to the taxpayers to extend enrichment,” said Robert Van Namen, USEC senior vice president and chief operating officer. “I am extremely disappointed to say we must now begin to take steps to cease enrichment. [Read more…]

President Obama signs spending measure that affects local centrifuge work

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President Obama recently signed a six-month federal spending measure with money for more work on the American Centrifuge research, development, and demonstration program, including in Oak Ridge, a USEC press release said.

The funding is part of the government’s $280 million, or 80 percent, share of the $350 million cost-share program with USEC Inc. It’s meant to prove America’s next generation of uranium enrichment technology and help national security and nuclear nonproliferation, the press release said.

[Read more…]