MARCH 2004

Libyan nuclear materials in secure storage at Y-12

PSAs teach children to be ‘Energy Hog Busters’

DOE, EPA sign science research MOU

March 2004 1 U.S. Department of Energy

The Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest Site Office digitally signs off on research proposals for the 5 first time.

Published monthly in Washington, D.C., by the Department of Energy, Office of Public Affairs, for the information of Department employees and affiliates and available to others by paid subscription. The Glovebox Excavator Method (GEM) The Secretary of Energy has determined that this periodical is necessary in the Project is completed ahead of schedule at transaction of public business as required the Pit 9 site at the Department of Energy’s by law. Use of funds for printing has been approved by the director of the Office Idaho National Engineering and Environ- of Management and Budget. The con- mental Laboratory. 8 tent is reprintable without permission and pictures are available for media repro- duction upon request.

Spencer Abraham Secretary of Energy

Jeanne Lopatto Director, Office of Public Affairs Chemist Devinder Mahajan of the Department of Energy’s Brookhaven Bonnie Winsett Editor National Laboratory has developed a new, cooler process to produce SUBSCRIPTION price for 12 issues is $22 11 ($27.50 foreign). Send check, or provide “pure” hydrogen for fuel cells. VISA or Mastercard number and expira- tion date, to: Superintendent of Docu- ments, P.O. Box 371954, Pittsburgh, PA 15250-7954. Credit-card orders can be called in 8 a.m.-4 p.m. ET, 202-512-1800, or faxed to 202-512-2250. Cite “DOE This Month (EINS).”

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News Office: DOE This Month Office of Public Affairs - PA-40 n March 15, Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham U.S. Department of Energy detailed for reporters a major success in the Washington, DC 20585 Administration’s nuclear nonproliferation efforts—the Internet Mail Address: O removal of 55,000 pounds of nuclear materials and equipment [email protected] from Libya. The press briefing and display of some of the HQ cc:mail: THISMONTH,DOE unclassified materials were held at the Department of Energy’s Y-12 National Security Complex, a National Nuclear Security Deadline for submissions: 15th of every month for the following month. Administration facility in Oak Ridge, Tenn. A joint American and British team that included personnel from DOE PA-0027-3 the U.S. Departments of Energy, State, and Defense brought the Vol. 27, No. 3 materials back to the United States for evaluation, testing, and destruction, and placed them under secure storage at the Y-12 facility. Some future shipments of materials will be stored at Y-12 as Libya carries out its decision to dispose of its holdings of weapons of mass destruction.

DOE This Month is printed For more on this nuclear nonproliferation success story, on paper containing at least see page 3. ❖ 50 percent recycled materials.

2 DOE This Month DOE helps secure Libyan nuclear materials On Dec. 19, 2003, the Govern- Y-12 National Security Complex, a nonproliferation efforts around the ment of Libya announced several National Nuclear Security Administra- world, and I for one am proud of decisions regarding its holdings of tion facility in Oak Ridge, Tenn. the role the Department of Energy weapons of mass destruction. The The 55,000 pounds of nuclear is playing.” United States, the United Kingdom, materials and equipment constitutes These efforts include working and the Government of Libya began the largest recovery, by weight, con- closely with the Russian Federation a period of intense cooperation to ducted under U.S. nonproliferation and accelerating material protection assist Libya in carrying out its deci- efforts. This represents less than programs inside Russia, including: sion to dispose of these holdings. five percent, by weight, of the total • Securing 41 of 64 identified nuclear The International Atomic Energy amount of equipment and materials warhead sites and 41 percent of Agency (IAEA) also played a central being recovered from Libya. The first approximately 600 metric tons of role for the nuclear program, and shipment was determined by U.S. weapons usable nuclear material Libya and the IAEA will continue and British experts to be some of the by the end of Fiscal Year 2005; their close coordination in the future. most sensitive items in the Libyan •Downblending more than 200 metric On Jan. 27, 2004, a joint American nuclear weapons program. tons of highly enriched uranium and British team that included per- “By any objective measure, the from dismantled nuclear weapons sonnel from the U.S. Departments United States and the nations of the for use in U.S. nuclear power of Energy (DOE), State, and Defense civilized world are safer as a result plants; and removed from Libya 55,000 pounds of these efforts to secure and remove •Working to shut down the last pluto- of uranium hexafluoride, centrifuge Libya’s nuclear materials. Libya itself nium production plants and replac- equipment, and other items. Along is safer, too,” Secretary of Energy ing their electricity production with with Libya’s detailed nuclear weap- Spencer Abraham said during a coal burning power plants. ons designs, the materials were March 15 press briefing at the Y-12 DOE‘s nonproliferation efforts also brought back to the U.S for evalua- facility. “The success of our mission have expanded to other parts of the tion, testing, and destruction, and in Libya underscores the success globe, including China and the placed under secure storage at DOE’s of our Administration’s broader world’s busiest seaports. ❖

DOE, EPA sign science research MOU

The Department of Energy (DOE) for states to meet and Environmental Protection Agency upcoming deadlines (EPA) signed a Memorandum of Un- for their air quality derstanding (MOU) on Feb. 18, 2004, attainment plans. that will increase collaboration on “Linking and leverag- research and computing resources. ing these two great The MOU builds on prior research research resources will and computing collaboration be- strengthen the scientific tween the two agencies. foundation for environ- “Today’s agreement allows us to mental, energy, and further our collaborative efforts and public health issues,” leverage the expertise of both agen- EPA Administrator Mike cies,” Secretary of Energy Spencer Leavitt said. “By bridg- Abraham said. “I am particularly ing the boundaries happy that EPA will benefit from the between our agencies, EPA Administrator Mike Leavitt (left) and Secretary of tremendous store of scientific knowl- we both can better Energy Spencer Abraham shake hands after signing edge and expertise in the Department serve the public need.” the science research MOU. of Energy’s national laboratories.” Work in computa- Under the agreement, DOE and tional toxicology—the application of MOU from access to DOE’s Joint EPA will link supercomputers in EPA’s computer-based statistical techniques Genome Institute. Genomics holds North Carolina facility and DOE’s and molecular genetics—also will be the potential to reveal the molecular Sandia National Laboratories. High accelerated by the agreement. Computa- pieces of the toxicity pathway and im- performance computing allows better tional toxicology can reduce animal test- prove chemical risk assessments and the and faster runs of environmental mod- ing and provide better and quicker toxic- evaluation of the health of ecosystems. els such as the Community Multi-Scale ity information for chemicals. The text of the MOU is available Air Quality model, an important tool EPA also will benefit under the at http://www.epa.gov/ord/. ❖

March 2004 3 ENERGY STAR® partners earn awards The Department of Energy (DOE) The ENERGY and the Environmental Protection STAR award winners Agency (EPA) hosted the 12th annual include: ENERGY STAR® awards ceremony on • Manufacturer March 2 in Washington, D.C. Over Partner of the 50 businesses and organizations were Year – Products: recognized for their efforts to pro- General Electric mote energy efficiency and aware- Consumer ness of the ENERGY STAR label. Products “Thanks to the thousands of pri- • Manufacturer Part- vate and public sector organizations ner of the Year – who have worked together with us to Appliances: establish the ENERGY STAR brand Whirlpool over the years, Americans have the Corporation ability to make smart energy choices, • Manufacturer helping the nation achieve our goal Partner of the of advancing new, cleaner energy Year – Lighting: Secretary Abraham (back row, third from left) and some technologies,” Secretary of Energy SYLVANIA of the 2004 ENERGY STAR award winners. Spencer Abraham said when he • Manufacturer Part- presented the awards ner of the Year – The ENERGY STAR label helps Windows: Gorell Enterprises, Inc. to include highly efficient appliances, consumers identify the most energy- • National Product Campaign: residential windows, doors and sky- efficient products in the marketplace Maytag Corporation Appliance lights, compact fluorescent bulbs and by looking for the label. Last year, Campaign fixtures, consumer electronics, heating the United States, with the help of • Excellence in Appliance Retailing: and air conditioning systems, homes, the ENERGY STAR program, saved Sears, Roebuck and Co. and more. enough energy to power 20 million EPA created ENERGY STAR in 1992 to Additional information on the homes and avoid greenhouse gas promote energy efficient computers. In ENERGY STAR program and a complete emissions equivalent to those from 1996, DOE and EPA formed a partner- listing of the award winners are available 18 million cars while saving $9 billion. ship to expand the scope of the program at http://www.energystar.gov. ❖

Energy efficiency PSA campaign targets youth On March 9, Secretary of Energy targeted at children between the ages Energy Management and Conserva- Spencer Abraham launched a national of eight and 13. Headlining the cam- tion were present at the kick-off event. public service advertisement (PSA) paign is a new spokes-villain—the In addition to Colorado, 19 state energy campaign designed to make children Energy Hog, an energy waster. The offices also are campaign sponsors. and their parents aware of energy effi- computer-generated creature appears “The new PSAs empower kids to ciency and smart energy choices. Fifth in the homes of families not using practice good energy-saving activities graders from Amidon Elementary energy efficiently. In all of the PSAs, with their parents,” Peggy Conlon, School in Washington, D.C., helped children are the first to identify the President and CEO of The Advertising Secretary Abraham kick off the cam- Energy Hog as the source of the prob- Council said. “We hope children and paign at the Department of Energy’s lems. The spots direct audiences to their families will be inspired by the (DOE) Headquarters Forrestal Building. http://www.energyhog.org where advertisements and learn about smart “The Energy Efficiency Campaign they can train to become Energy Hog energy usage through the fun and in- will raise public awareness of the ben- Busters and learn fun and simple ways formative website,” added Skip Arnold, efits of making smart energy choices to use energy more efficiently. Executive Director, Energy Outreach at home,” Secretary Abraham said. The Advertising Council and Colorado. “By developing an appreciation for Energy Outreach Colorado developed The PSAs will be distributed to energy efficiency at an early age, the Energy Hog and the PSAs. Cam- media outlets nationwide and will run children are able to make smart energy paign sponsors DOE, The Home and air in advertising time and space choices and encourage their parents Depot, the North American Insulation donated by the media. The Energy to do the same.” Manufacturers Association, the Efficiency Campaign will span several The campaign includes television, National Fuel Funds Network, and years and target parents and teachers radio, and Internet PSAs primarily the Colorado Governor’s Office of in future phases. ❖

4 DOE This Month Kansas City Plant, Pantex form partnership, improve performance In 2001, Pantex BWXT invited the needed to capture Department of Energy’s Kansas City knowledge before it goes Plant (KCP) to share best business out the door. Lula helped practices with the goal of improving Pantex capture some of productivity, quality, delivery perfor- their critical processes. mance, and capacity constraints with- Lula examined Pantex out increasing costs. Since that time, processes, interviewed KCP has worked closely with Pantex experts, studied proce- employees to make significant im- dures, and then made provements, particularly in the areas of extensive process maps. pit repackaging, mass properties, qual- After reviewing initial ity and root cause analysis, information maps, experts familiar systems, and knowledge preservation. with the processes made “The past few years have seen suggestions for further several opportunities for Pantex and refinement. the Kansas City Plant to share infor- “The process maps Pantex scientist Tim Quinlin holds the product of the mation and technical expertise,” said were videotaped, the knowledge preservation process—a disk that will Virgil Hughes, one in the original engineers were inter- help future workers understand the synthesis and group of Kansas City Plant managers viewed, and we put it all formulation of high explosives. who went to Pantex when BWXT together in a knowledge- Pantex took over. “Both plants have preservation package,” Lula said. system, to capture knowledge for criti- worked together to improve the weap- The final product includes 57 process cal process information. ons complex by leveraging corporate maps linked to 195 videos covering The success of the Kansas City resources and knowledge as it relates the process overview, step-by-step Plant and Pantex collaboration has to nuclear resources and production.” instructions, and interviews with subject- not escaped the notice of the Na- Jim Lula, a staff engineer in KCP’s matter experts. As a result of assis- tional Nuclear Security Administra- materials engineering organization, tance from Kansas City Plant, Pantex tion. KCP’s Six Sigma team received went to Pantex not because they were now uses Six Sigma process mapping, a Defense Programs Award of Excel- having problems, but because they as well as the KCP web-based delivery lence for its work at Pantex. ❖ DOE, lab go digital to sign on the bottom line Jeff Day in the Department of used to directly link together DOE Energy’s (DOE) Pacific Northwest Site and PNNL workflow systems. The Office signs off on about 150 Laboratory improved LDRD proposal system is Directed Research and Development a web-based workflow system that (LDRD) proposals submitted annually routes data electronically for concur- by DOE’s Pacific Northwest National rence. The process previously Laboratory (PNNL). This year, for the required routing hard copies of first time, he did it without lifting a pen. documents, waiting for as many as Day digitally signed a business six physical signatures per proposal, application using Entrust TruePass soft- and keeping papers on file as part ware, eliminating the time and cost of required record keeping. of traditional paper-intensive pro- L-r, PNNL staff members Mark Hadley, “With the electronic digital signa- cesses. “As part of efforts by PNNL Jaralyn Carroll, and Pamela Hughes join ture capability, we have decreased and DOE to automate applications, DOE’s Jeff Day (seated) for the first use overall program costs, and stream- we can now use a few keystrokes to of a common digital signature to link lined the process for approving our serve as a secure, uniquely identifi- DOE and national laboratory workflow LDRD projects, enabling our staff to able and official signature,” said Mark systems. begin their research work more Hadley, a senior research scientist quickly,” said Pamela Hughes, who working on information technology business for more than a year, the manages PNNL’s LDRD program. infrastructure at PNNL. concurrence signatures on the LDRD “The electronic system also makes it While PNNL has been using secure proposals mark the first time a easier for DOE to check the status of digital signatures for work-related common digital signature has been approved projects.” ❖

March 2004 5 Hanford’s first open-air demolition progresses Crews have successfully removed 13 of 29 concrete roof and wall sec- tions from the 233-S Plutonium Con- centration Facility at the Department of Energy’s Hanford Site, leading to final slab on grade demolition. The roof and walls of the facility are cut into large blocks that are lifted into disposal containers or wrapped and shipped on flatbed trucks. In the photograph, a piece of the facility’s wall is lowered to the ground by a crane. To date, the demolition materials have been taken to Hanford’s Envi- ronmental Restoration Disposal Facility in the middle of the Hanford Site. The bottom floor of 233-S contains higher levels of contamination, and some of those demolition materials will be “right-sized” and placed into con- tainers that will eventually go to the demolition of a plutonium facility in shared with other DOE project sites Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in New the DOE complex. Innovative tech- outside of Hanford. Mexico as transuranic (TRU) waste. niques, such as using fixatives to Planning is now underway to pre- The project is the first demolition “glue” contamination to wall surfaces pare to place a concrete cap on the of a plutonium processing facility at and using fogging and misting during “footprint” of the facility once it is Hanford and the first “free-air” demolition to control dust, are being demolished. ❖

BPA will lease its ‘own’ transmission line The 63-mile Schultz-Wautoma own the project. The portions of Leasing brings private non Federal 500-kilovolt line from the Department the project to be financed under the capital sources into Federal transmis- of Energy’s (DOE) Hanford Reserva- lease-purchase will relate to fixtures— sion construction at minimal cost to tion to Ellensburg, Wash., is one of towers and lines. Other parts of the ratepayers. The cost of the leasing the top projects in DOE Bonneville project—substation, roads, rights of agreement is expected to be between Power Administration’s (BPA) trans- way—will be owned and financed by 0.6 and 0.8 percent above the cost of mission infrastructure program. BPA BPA using traditional U.S. Treasury borrowing from the U.S. Treasury. delayed construction of the line to borrowing. BPA lease revenues will This is considerably less expensive explore financing alternatives that back the bonds. BPA will lease the than other third-party financing alter- would allow construction of the assets from Northwest Infrastructure natives BPA has explored that could project without putting pressure on Financing Corp. for 30 years but will have cost up to 10 percent more BPA’s limit on bonds it may have manage construction and will exclu- than BPA’s comparable borrowing outstanding with the U.S Treasury. sively operate the line. At the end of rate. The President, Congress, the When completed, the line will carry the lease, after the bonds are repaid, Office of Management and Budget, enough power to serve a city the size BPA, could at its option, have full and DOE have encouraged BPA to of Seattle at a total cost, including ownership. use non Federal financing. substations, of $175 million. Leasing conserves BPA’s use The federal budget will be unaf- BPA will finance the construction of scarce U.S. Treasury borrowing, fected by this deal. BPA’s Fiscal Year of the Schultz-Wautoma project in which otherwise is expected to be 2005 budget has already been sub- part through a lease-purchase agree- exhausted in 2008. If applied to mitted to OMB and went to Congress ment with Northwest Infrastructure other projects, similar non Federal on Monday, Feb. 2. Whether Financing Corp., a subsidiary of financing could reduce BPA U.S. Schultz-Wautoma construction is J.H. Management, which issued Treasury borrowing for critical funded by borrowing from the Trea- approximately $116 million in taxable transmission projects by about sury or a lease, the capital cost to bonds on March 9 to finance and $500 million. BPA is still the same.❖

6 DOE This Month NNSA program to engage Iraqi scientists A new program to provide em- organization established to stimulate The first phase of this long-term ployment opportunities to Iraqi scien- scientific research in the Arab world. effort is the current survey of Iraq’s tists, technicians, and engineers is be- The partnership will help rebuild key science and technology infrastructure ing initiated by the Department of elements of Iraq’s critical infrastruc- by scientists from the ASTF. Once Energy’s (DOE) National Nuclear Se- ture and develop new Iraqi business the survey is completed, the partners curity Administration (NNSA). The opportunities that provide will convene a workshop in the re- program will complement Adminis- sustainability to Iraqi science and gion to bring together representative tration initiatives that seek to support technology. experts from Iraq, the United States, reconstruction efforts and prevent the “This program addresses the criti- the international science community, proliferation of weapons of mass de- cal need to provide significant and and funding organizations to discuss struction expertise. meaningful employment opportuni- priorities and options for technical The new effort is in cooperation ties for all scientists in Iraq,” Under cooperation. Finally, financial contri- with the Arab Science and Technol- Secretary for Nuclear Security and butions from donor countries and ogy Foundation (ASTF) and the Co- NNSA Administrator Linton Brooks funding organizations will be sought operative Monitoring Center at DOE’s said. “Moreover, it is helping them to initiate work on several of the Sandia National Laboratories. The rebuild Iraqi science and technology highest priority projects, as well as to ASTF, headquartered in the United infrastructure and reintegrate Iraq into institute a merit-based nomination and Arab Emirates, is a nongovernmental the international science community.” review process for future work. ❖

DOE issues long-term hydrogen research plan The Department of Energy (DOE) and includes timelines that provide integrates research, development, released its Hydrogen Posture Plan clear and scientific measures to track and demonstration activities from the on March 10. The document outlines and demonstrate progress,” Secretary DOE renewable energy, nuclear, fos- the activities, milestones, and of Energy Spencer Abraham said. “If sil, and science offices. An integrated deliverables that DOE plans to we achieve our technical objectives, hydrogen program will improve the pursue to support America’s shift to the automotive and energy industries effectiveness and accountability of a hydrogen-based transportation en- will be in a position to begin to mass DOE’s research activities and increase ergy system. The plan identifies market availability of both vehicles the probability of success in achiev- milestones for technology develop- and refueling infrastructure by 2020.” ing technical milestones on the road ment over the next 10 years, leading The Hydrogen Posture Plan ad- to a hydrogen economy. up to a commercialization decision dresses a National Research Council The plan is available at by industry in 2015. recommendation that DOE more fully http://www.eere.energy.gov/ “This plan supports President coordinate its hydrogen activities hydrogenandfuelcells. ❖ Bush’s vision of a hydrogen economy within the Department. The plan

April 29-May 3 14th Annual Department Also visit the Science Bowl website, ence schedule is May 18 and 20, of Energy (DOE) National Science http://www.scied.science.doe.gov. 10 am to 5 pm EST, and May 19, Bowl®, Chevy Chase, Md. Sponsored 10 am to 12 noon. Topics include by DOE and others; managed by environmentally preferable purchas- DOE’s Office of Science (SC). Win- May ing, waste reduction, pollution pre- ning teams from regional tournaments 18-20 Annual Department of Energy vention reporting, and research and held across the United States at DOE (DOE) Pollution Prevention (P2) development for pollution preven- sites, other Federal agencies, and Televideo Conference for Headquar- tion. Interactive field panel discus- educational institutions will par- ters and field sites. Sponsored by sions, individual presentations, and ticipate in the national finals. For DOE’s Office of Pollution Prevention question and answer sessions will be questions or to volunteer, contact Sue and Resource Conservation Policy and featured. For more information, con- Ellen Walbridge, SC-1, 202-586-7231 or Guidance (EH-43), Office of Environ- tact Beverly Whitehead, 202-586-6073 [email protected]. ment, Safety and Health. The confer- or [email protected]. ❖

March 2004 7 Rhode Island increases CNG fuel availability

The Department of Energy’s (DOE) Boston Regional Office joined in the recent dedication of the State of Rhode Island’s Com- pressed Natural Gas (CNG) Fueling Station in Cranston. Rhode Island’s third fueling facility, this station will make CNG fuel more available to the state’s growing CNG vehicle fleet. The new station has a total capacity of 150 cubic feet per minute (cfm) fuel deliv- ered at either 3,000 or 3,600 pounds per square inch (psi), with the capability of fueling 150 CNG vehicles a day. Boston Regional Office Clean Cities Project Officer Mike Scarpino spoke on behalf of DOE, addressing energy security and public health benefits of compressed natural gas. In the photo- graph, Boston Regional Director Hugh Saussy (right) and Scarpino stand in front of one of the Rhode Island Public Transportation Authority’s CNG-powered trolleys featured at the fueling station dedication in Cranston. ❖

Idaho Lab finishes GEM project ahead of schedule

Workers at the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory successfully completed the Glovebox Excavator Method Project on Feb. 29, 2004. A total of 454 drums of waste were removed from a portion of the one-acre Pit 9 site more than eight months ahead of the schedule agreed upon in 2002 by DOE, the State of Idaho and the U.S. Environ- mental Protection Agency. At left, workers use glove boxes to manually sort and repackage the recovered waste. “This achievement was possible because of the cooperative spirit in which the Department of Energy, the State of Idaho and the U.S. Environmental Pro- tection Agency approached this project,” Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham said. “This was critical to moving cleanup of this portion of this site from a pa- per enterprise to a real one.” Options are being discussed for performing additional waste retrieval and other environmental protection actions in other portions of the 97-acre Subsur- face Disposal Area. ❖

Hanford plutonium inventory now safe, stable

Beating by more than three months a commitment to the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board (DNFSB), the last of ap- proximately 18 metric tons of plutonium-bearing material at the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Hanford Site has been safely stabi- lized and packaged by Fluor Hanford for shipment off site. At left, the last 3013 can is packaged and tagged at Hanford’s Plutonium Finishing Plant. The Plutonium Finishing Plant, where plutonium solutions were purified and converted to a more stable metal form, was the final step in the site’s production process. When Hanford’s last reactor was shut down in 1988 and the cleanup mission began in 1989, both weapons-grade plutonium and large quantities of plutonium- bearing material in various forms were left inside the plant’s process lines and glove boxes. By the mid-1990s, the Plutonium Finishing Plant complex, a collection of 61 buildings, posed the Hanford Site’s greatest plutonium hazard. Over the next few years, the facility’s buildings will be closed and decommissioned. ❖

8 DOE This Month Pantex sponsors Science Bowl regional competitions

Students from across Texas converged on West Texas A&M University in February 2004 for the annual High School and Middle School Science Bowl Competitions sponsored by the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Pantex Plant. For the third year in a row, a team from Dunbar High School, Fort Worth, Texas, at right, won the high school competition to represent Pantex at DOE’s 2004 National Science Bowl® in Washington, D.C. Crockett Middle School won the Middle School Science Bowl for the second time and will travel to Golden, Colo. for the national competition. “Science Bowl gives these students their opportunity to shine and show off their academic skills,” said Pantex Science Bowl Coordinator Linell Carter. “The students are the key to the continued success of both the high school and middle school competitions.” BWXT Pantex awarded the winning schools for each competition $1,000 for their science programs; second place schools, $500; and third place schools, $250. ❖

Energy program offices hold joint safety summit

As part of a broader effort to ensure safe, secure, and environmentally sound operations in 2004, the Department of Energy’s Offices of Fossil Energy (FE) and Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EE) held a joint Safety Summit on Jan. 27 in Washington, D.C. The meeting gave the energy programs an opportunity to discuss recent performance trends, emerging issues, and practical approaches to continuous involvement in the area of environment, safety and health (ES&H). Two FE sites, the Albany Research Center and the Rocky Mountain Oilfield Testing Center, received Secretarial awards for achieving perfect safety records in 2003. Attendees included (l-r) then FE and current EE Assistant Secretaries Michael Smith and David Garman, and Under Secre- tary for Energy, Science and Environment Robert Card. FE and EE field site directors and ES&H managers also participated. For more information on the summit or copies of presentations, visit http://esh.fe.doe.gov, click on “Meetings & Workshops,” or contact Craig Zamuda, FE, 202-586-6367. ❖

Naval Reactors participates in NAFEO annual conference

On March 4, Thomas H. Beckett, Deputy Director for Naval Reactors in the Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration (left), and Captain Bruce A. Grooms, Commander, Submarine Squadron SIX, U.S. Navy (right), raised educators’ awareness about opportunities in the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program (NNPP) in a presentation at the 29th Annual National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education (NAFEO) Conference. Their audience consisted of academic deans, educa- tors, and fellows from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Naval Reactors values diversity in the NNPP, a joint DOE-U.S. Navy program, and attaches importance to HBCUs as a good source of technically qualified individuals. Many training, education, and leadership opportuni- ties are available to students through the NNPP in the Fleet, at Naval Reactors’ headquarters, at DOE laboratories, and at shipbuilding and repair facilities. NNPP education programs provide economic support to students while in college, allowing them to concentrate full-time on technically demanding degrees. Moreover, the students have guaranteed employment upon graduation. ❖

March 2004 9 Work continues, milestone reached at Savannah River One chapter ended and another began at the Department of Energy Savannah River Site’s H Canyon, as the facility completed decades of work dissolving irradiated fuel. The facility, which has processed irradiated fuel since the 1960s, shifted smoothly into a new mission—dissolving unirradiated fuel—more than two months ahead of schedule. The unirradiated fuel was intended for use in the Site’s production reac- tors, but the reactor shut down before it was needed. Uranium from the unirradiated fuel will be recovered by H Canyon and blended with natural uranium to form low enriched ura- nium (LEU). The LEU will be used in commercial power generating reactors owned by the Tennessee Valley Authority. Another milestone was reached at the Site’s Defense Waste Processing Facility (DWPF). Six million pounds of radioactive glass have been poured The first unirradiated fuel bundle is surveyed at the H Canyon Bundle Off-Loading since the facility began operations Station. and the 200th canister has been pro- duced with the new melter. DWPF leads the world in pouring environ- Operations began in March 1996 and operated continuously for more mentally acceptable borosilicate are expected to continue until about than eight years, including six years glassified waste and is the largest 2020. Jeff Barnes, DWPF facility of radioactive operations—more facility of its kind in the world. manager, said employees have safely than three times its design life. The facility converts highly radio- and efficiently operated the process It produced more than 1,300 waste active liquid waste, currently stored and consistently met or exceeded glass canisters. The new melter in 49 underground tanks at Savannah performance expectations. was installed in January 2003 and River, into a solid glass form suitable The heart of DWPF operations began pouring radioactive glass in for long-term storage and disposal. is its 65-ton melter. The first one March 2003. ❖

Materials distributed for Earth Day observance The Federal Energy Management of renewable energy photographs in- Packages of materials were sched- Program (FEMP) in the Department set into the letters, “Smart Energy.” uled for mailing to Federal agencies of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Energy The message promotes the idea that, the third week of March to arrive the Efficiency and Renewable Energy by helping to spread awareness first week of April. The materials in- (EERE) is asking Federal facilities about the benefits of renewable en- clude 18" x 24" and 12" x 16" Earth and others to celebrate Earth Day ergy and making smart energy Day posters, key tags, post it notes, on April 22 and throughout the year. choices, we can help our nation sunflower seed packs, and champion The FEMP theme this year, “Smart achieve a healthier environment and posters (for selected recipients). Energy, Choices for Our Future,” is a stronger economy. Collectively, all Limited additional quantities of in line with DOE’s “Smart Energy” actions that increase Federal use of selected items are available from the campaign and ties into that theme renewable energy will expand our EERE Information Center at for Earth Day 2004. energy supply, prevent pollution and 1-877-337-3463. Additional Energy The official poster features a number increase our national security. Champion posters are not available. ❖

10 DOE This Month DOE suspends proposed safety rulemaking In a Feb. 23, 2004, letter to the breadth of this action through a with the Board and to consider the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety series of Safety Summits. concerns of other interested stake- Board (DNFSB), Secretary of Energy “…As you are aware, the inci- holders as appropriate.” Spencer Abraham announced that he dences of injury and days lost as a Secretary Abraham has directed is suspending rulemaking on pro- result of workplace injury have fallen Under Secretary for Energy, Science posed changes to the Department of at the DOE for the third straight year and Environment Robert Card and Energy’s (DOE) worker safety rules and are now well below the rates ex- Assistant Secretary for Environment, and requirements, Worker Safety and perienced in private industry. Never- Safety and Health Beverly Cook to Health, Title 10 CFR, Part 851. theless, as I have made clear to my se- work with the Board and DOE’s Office “As you know, ensuring the safety nior managers, we must and will strive of Security and Safety Performance and health of workers at Department to do even better in the years to come. Assurance to address the concerns of Energy sites is a top personal pri- “I am deeply concerned by the that have been raised. Secretary ority for me,” Secretary Abraham told perception expressed by the Board Abraham stressed that any final rule DNFSB Chairman John Conway. and others commenting that the ap- will reflect the direction and intent of “In January of this year, at the proach of the proposed rule may not Congress and reflect his policy that Department’s Senior Leadership be consistent with that goal. Conse- safety standards will not be “written by Summit, I designated 2004 the ‘Year quently, I have directed that the cur- contractors,” but instead will be subject of Safety,’ and intend to continue to rent proposed rulemaking be sus- to the personal approval of more senior communicate the meaning and pended to allow further consultations Federal officials than is the case today. ❖

New, cooler process produces ‘pure’ hydrogen

Devinder Mahajan, a chemist at to form a homog- the Department of Energy’s (DOE) enous solution in Brookhaven National Laboratory, has a methanol and developed a novel, low-temperature water mixture. The process of producing “pure” hydro- hydrogen feed gen for use in fuel cells. The process containing CO is may help address one of the most then introduced, significant difficulties in developing and, at relatively efficient and affordable fuel cells— low temperatures how to extend the life of the catalysts between 80 and that make them work. 150 degrees C, the Fuel cells combine hydrogen and catalyst reacts with oxygen without combustion to produce the CO and water direct electrical power and water. An to convert nearly important problem facing today’s most 100 percent of the promising fuel cell technologies is that CO into carbon the same hydrogen that feeds the reac- dioxide and, as a tion often contains high levels of carbon Devinder Mahajan uses a chromatograph to analyze side benefit, addi- monoxide (CO) formed during the hy- carbon monoxide levels in hydrogen purified using his tional hydrogen. drogen production process. The CO patented process. The resulting “poisons,” or degrades, the expensive hydrogen feed platinum catalysts that convert hydro- million or higher. A second option contains only a few parts per million gen into electricity within the fuel cell, is to send the hydrogen through a of CO and is at the correct tempera- leading to deterioration in efficiency second process to remove most of ture to be fed directly into a fuel over time and eventual replacement. the CO before feeding it into the fuel cell. The process also minimizes the Fuel cell researchers have tried to cell. This process typically employs amount of waste produced during solve the CO-poisoning problem in a high-temperature catalytic reaction the reaction due to low temperature several ways. By adding metals like known as water-gas-shift, which operation, high product selectivity, ruthenium or molybdenum to the leaves unacceptable levels of CO in and high catalytic activity. platinum, scientists have been able to the finished product. Mahajan recently was issued U.S. formulate more tolerant catalysts, but In Mahajan’s new process, a ruthe- Patent 6,596,423 for developing the even these are poisoned by relatively nium trichloride or similar metal cata- process. His research is funded by low levels of CO—100 parts per lyst is mixed with a nitrogen complex DOE’s Office of Fossil Energy. ❖

March 2004 11 Electronic-Voluntary Protection Program (e-VPP) system rolls out The Department of Energy’s making Government more re- web-based process for filing VPP (DOE) Office of Environment, sponsive and cost effective; and applications. Safety, and Health (EH) has devel- •To support field activities by The e-VPP system was success- oped a “web-based” system for greatly simplifying and reducing fully tested in 2003 at the Oak Ridge handling Department of Energy their workload in preparing, Institute for Science and Education Voluntary Protection Program transmitting and amending VPP (ORISE), which recently earned (DOE-VPP) applications. The applications—cutting resource STAR status in the DOE-VPP. Bob system, called Electronic-Voluntary requirements by more than half. Kapolka, Director of Environment, Protection Program, or e-VPP, gives Prior to e-VPP, applications for Safety and Health, ORISE, stated users the ability to submit applica- VPP recognition both within DOE that the e-VPP system will make tions for DOE-VPP via the Internet and in the private sector took applying for the DOE-VPP less instead of a paper application weeks of work and resulted in labor intensive and time consuming document consisting of several paper applications containing for all who use it. Kapolka went hundred pages. hundreds of documents. Compiling on to say that he wished the The e-VPP initially was conceived such applications was resource e-VPP system had been available and planned as an “E-Gov” activity, intensive, and the mailing or trans- when ORISE started the application directly supporting the Department in mittal of applications was difficult. process. meeting the President’s Management Various attempts had been made at The success of the e-VPP system Agenda. The main objectives of the DOE sites to reduce the burden of has resulted in planning for addi- system are: the “typical” application process, tional e-VPP projects as well as •To enable and expand the use of including scanning documents, encouraging the private sector and secure Internet and computer re- transferring them to diskettes and other State and Federal agencies to sources in providing Government CDs, and placing them on the site’s use the DOE e-VPP as a model services, i.e. better serving citizens Intranet, which produced concerns program. For more information on through “Electronic” Government regarding security. Using these e-VPP and additional projects, visit (E-Gov); “lessons learned,” in 2002, EH http://tis.eh.doe.gov/vpp/articles/ •To directly support the President’s undertook the commitment to evpp_rollout.html. ❖ direction regarding E-Gov by develop, test, and provide a true,

Office of Inspector General (IG) Uranium Operations at the Y-12 vrrpt/pdf/0608(02).pdf. Perfor- reports: FY 2003 Annual Perfor- National Security Complex (DOE/ mance Profiles of Major Energy mance Report and FY 2004 IG-0640). The reports are available Producers (DOE/EIA-0206/04) Annual Performance Plan (DOE/ from the U.S. Department of Energy, reports profits of major U.S. energy IG-APP-006); Office of Inspector IG Reports Request Line, 202-586- companies were $20.6 billion in General Semiannual Report to 2744, or at http://www.ig.doe.gov. 2002, almost 50 percent lower Congress (DOE/IG-0031); Electricity From the Energy Information than in 2001; available at http:// Transmission Scheduling at the Administration (EIA): Voluntary www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/perfpro/. Bonneville Power Administration Reporting of Greenhouse Gases Information on these and other EIA (DOE/IG-0637); Recovery of (DOE/EIA-0608/2002) details data reports is available from the U.S. Highly Enriched Uranium Pro- submitted by 228 U.S. companies Department of Energy, National vided to Foreign Countries (DOE/ and other entities on 2,027 projects Energy Information Center, EI-30, IG-0638); The Department’s Audit to reduce or sequester greenhouse 202-586-8800, or at http:// Resolution Process (DOE/IG-0639); gases in 2002; available at http:// www.eia.doe.gov. ❖ Reestablishment of Enriched www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/1605/

12 DOE This Month On Feb. 19, 2004, Secretary of tory (INEEL) a Brightest Star Award Governor’s Office of Energy Manage- Energy Spencer Abraham announced for its sponsorship of the Hispanic ment and Conservation. RnE2EW will a new effort in cooperation with Youth Symposium. With the recogni- travel to schools and public events to regional, state, and local partners to tion, INEEL received a $5,000 check bring energy, math, science, and tech- educate state and local government that will be used for scholarships at nology education to teachers, students, officials about the vision of a hydro- the 2004 symposium in April. Each and consumers throughout Colorado. gen economy. “Hydrogen Power: spring, about 300 Hispanic teens The Promise, The Challenge” is a gather in Sun Valley, Idaho, to hear — ❖ — six-city national tour that commenced motivational speakers and participate in Lansing, Mich., March 23, in part- in interactive workshops, all designed The Department of Energy’s Los nership with Lansing Community Col- to promote staying in school and Alamos National Laboratory and lege and Michigan’s NextEnergy. The seeking brighter futures. INEEL has the University of California further second stop for “Hydrogen 101” is in been sponsoring the symposium enhanced its partnerships with New Austin, Texas, on April 16, 2004, in since 1990. Mexico academic institutions by sign- cooperation with the Texas State Energy ing two memoranda of understanding Conservation Office and the Texas Clean — ❖ — on research and education and on in- Air Working Group. The series will tellectual property with New Mexico travel to cities in the Northeast, Mid- In celebration of Colorado Energy State University on Feb. 13, 2004. Atlantic, Southeast, and West before Education Day on Feb. 11, 2004, Research areas covered under the wrapping up in fall 2004. Governor Bill Owens launched the agreements are modeling and simula- Renewable Energy and Energy Effi- tion, such as predictive science, deci- — ❖ — ciency on Wheels (RnE2EW) program sion making and engineering design; at the State Capitol in Denver. The and security, including applications Idaho Governor Dick Kempthorne program is the product of a partner- to homeland security and defense, has awarded the Department of ship among the Department of Energy, environmental security, sensor and Energy’s Idaho National Engineer- its National Renewable Energy detection technology and information ing and Environmental Labora- Laboratory, BP America, and the intelligence. ❖

The Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory recently held its ninth annual Rube Goldberg machine contest for high schools. Teams from 11 Chicago, Ill., area high schools built machines that took at least 20 steps to select, mark, and cast an election ballot. At left, a student from Riverside- Brookfield High School explains her team’s machine to the judges. Rube Goldberg machine contests are inspired by Reuben Lucius Goldberg, whose cartoons combined simple household items into complex devices to perform trivial tasks. ❖

March 2004 13 Nobel Laureate Russell Hulse, a Most recently, Sigal served as Deputy Shereff, Friedman in Washington, scientist at the Department of Assistant Secretary for Environment D.C. Before joining the law firm, Energy’s Princeton and Science in the Office of Congres- Lavine retired as Senior Vice President Plasma Physics sional and Intergovernmental Affairs. and Chief Legal Officer of Niagara Laboratory, has been Previously, Sigal founded and oper- Mohawk Holdings. He previously elected a Fellow of ated Jill Sigal Associates, a govern- served on the staff of the New York the American Asso- ment relations consulting firm, and State Legislature in various positions. ciation for the Ad- served as a consultant and attorney vancement of Sci- at several Washington, D.C., firms. Charles V. Shank, Director of the ence. He was cited Department of Energy’s Lawrence for the “discovery of Karen Boardman, Manager of the Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), the pulsar in a binary system and the National Nuclear Security has announced his intention to leave resulting evidence for gravitational Administration’s (NNSA) Sandia Site the position by the end of the year. energy radiation.” Hulse won the Office has been named Director of He joined LBNL and the University 1993 Nobel Prize in Physics jointly the NNSA Service Center, succeeding of California, Berkeley faculty in with Princeton University Professor James Hirahara, who has retired. September 1989. Shank will be return- Joseph Taylor for their 1974 discov- Patty Wagner, Deputy Manager of ing to the Berkeley campus as a fac- ery of the first binary pulsar. the Sandia Site Office, has moved up ulty member, where he is a tenured to become Manager. Steve Goodrum, professor in three departments— President George W. Bush recently Deputy Associate Director at the Physics, Chemistry, and Electrical announced his intention to nominate NNSA Service Center, will become Engineering and Computer Science. Jerald S. Paul as Principal Deputy the new Deputy Manager of the Administrator of the Department of Sandia Site Office. The Chinese Institute of Engineers/ Energy’s National Nuclear Security USA has named Wu-chun Feng, Administration. Paul currently serves Leonard K. Peters, Director of the leader of the Research and Develop- as a Member of the Florida House of Department of Energy’s Pacific North- ment in Advanced Network Technol- Representatives and as a partner in west National Labo- ogy Team in the Computer and Com- the law firm of McKinley, Ittersagen, ratory, is the recipi- putational Sciences Division at the Gunderson and Berntsson, P.A. ent of the Oak Ridge Department of Energy’s Los Alamos The nomination is subject to Senate Associated Universi- National Laboratory, the 2004 Asian confirmation. ties (ORAU) Out- American Engineer of the Year. He standing Leadership was honored for his research and James Sethian, Head of the Math- Award. The award innovations in supercomputing and ematics Group at the Department recognizes individu- high-speed networks. of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley als who have dem- National Laboratory, has received onstrated sustained leadership and Brian Davison has been named the prestigious Norbert Wiener support of ORAU activities involving Director of the Life Sciences Division Prize in Applied Mathematics by member universities and/or national at the Department of Energy’s Oak the American Mathematical Society laboratories and includes a grant to Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). and the Society for Industrial and support a conference or symposium Previously, he was leader of the Applied Mathematics for his appli- on atmospheric chemistry. Biochemical Engineering Research cations of computational ideas in Group and Director of ORNL’s science and engineering. Gary Lavine is the Department of Bioprocessing Research and Develop- Energy’s new Deputy General Counsel ment Center. Also at ORNL, Gary Jill Sigal has been appointed Principal for Environment and Nuclear Pro- Jacobs has been named Director of Deputy Assistant Secretary for Con- grams. Lavine has been involved with the Environmental Sciences Division. gressional and Intergovernmental energy issues for nearly 25 years, most Most recently, he was Deputy Direc- Affairs at the Department of Energy. recently as counsel to Swidler, Berlin, tor of the division. ❖

14 DOE This Month YEARS OF SERVICE William W. Huxford, Jr. (25). Southeastern Mary W. Caldwell (19), Renee L. Irwin (29), March 2004 Power – Kenneth E. Legg (30). James A. Miller (37), David E. Ramirez (32), Headquarters Southwestern Power – Thomas O. Burton Mary A. Roark (34), Frederick T. Sienko (34), (30), David B. Reynolds (30), James R. Richard R. Stenzel (28). Idaho – Leonard H. EIA – Dorothy Pritchett (40 years), Kenneth Carnahan (25). Western Area Power – Anderson, Jr. (41), Frances C. Fugate (22), A. Vagts (35), Robert T. Eynon (30), Velton James H. Charters (35), David E. Gest (35), Teresa M. Horkley (26). Kansas City Site/ T. Funk (30), Barry M. Yaffe (30). Energy Jesse E. Long (35), Roy S. Stewart (35), John B. NNSA – Kenneth H. Bauer (42), Leta F. Assurance – Brenda G. Davis (30). Energy Dake (30), Mary A. Luna (30), George R. Johnston (35). Los Alamos Site/NNSA – Efficiency & Renewable Energy – Clotilda Perkins (30), Kenneth B. Williams (30), Arthur Thomas R. Rush (25). NETL – Perry D. G. Marchione (35), Richard P. Klimkos (30). Diaz-Gonzalez (25), Brenda D. Lopez (25), Bergman (38), Richard F. Hickey (26), Leo E. Environmental Management – Kathleen P. Laurie D. Moore (25), Nick G. Zusmer (25). Makovsky (35). Nevada – Linda C. Schmith Keating (30), Sunil S. Patel (25). FERC – (29). Nevada Site/NNSA – Linda K. Herbert Grossman (45), Helen Fitzgerald Hiltbrand (31), Alison D. Marks (30). (30), Richard F. Armstrong (25), John T. RETIREMENTS January 2004 Carlson (25), William R. Cary (25), Robert T. NNSA Service Center – Sharon D. Adams (22), Catlin (25), Ronald A. Colter (25), Bettie J. Headquarters Joyce A. Augustine (27), Peggy M. Baca (35), Darnaby (25), Deborah A. Frazier (25), Glenn V. Binns (41), Richard L. Busboom (34), Robert W. Fulton (25), Mark Klose (25), Chief Information Officer – Vickie L. Barry E. Sullivan (25), Lotfy N. Sidrak (25), Highling (29 years). Counterintelligence – Priscilla G. Cannady (19), Onesima N. Casco Tiquana M. Taylor (25). Robert B. Dandridge (21). Economic Im- (31), Linda A. Clawson (16), Raymon D. Cox pact & Diversity – Donald M. Wirick (25). (39), Daniel Dea (35), William J. Donahoe (12), Fossil Energy – F. Jerome Hinkle (30), EIA- Diane L. Jackson (36), Suraj P. Kanhouwa Bradley D. Eichorst (15), John L. Gonzales (35), Tawanna M. Griffin-Harris (25). General (29), Roger L. Sacquety (39). Energy Effi- Velva T. Gonzales (25), Donna J. Hansen (27), Counsel – Marcia B. Suber (35), Nancy J. ciency & Renewable Energy – Joyce G. William L. Harrell (33), Kay A. Henry (35), Mahoney (30). Management, Budget & Bolden (37), Judy S. Davis (35), Ute I. Debus Anne M. Hubbard (22), Karen N. Jones (36), Evaluation – Ivan D. Johnson (30), Geneva (35), Ralph E. Gierens (31), Thomas J. Gross Marguerite E. Knight (27), Linda M. Kriesel (30), H. Keyes (30), James J. Webber (30), James (36), Thomas J. Hall (30), Beverly J. Johnston Valerie A.L. Moore (23), Norine J. Naranjo (39), G. Powers (25), Barbara J. Uzzell (25). NNSA – (31), Robert A. Kost (26), Kitt Lente (34), Dennis E. Neely (30), Janet L. Rego (33), William L. Barker, Jr. (30), Joseph E. Manzanares Richard E. Putnam (35), Elizabeth L. Shearer Jacqueline A. Rhodes (29), Mary A. Robinson (20), (30), Richard E. Young, Jr. (30), Samuel M. (30), Andre W. Van Rest (32), Mary A. Jeri A. Simmons (29), Janet M. Smith (30), Judy M. Graziano, Jr. (25), David B. Williamson (25). Washington (41). FERC – Hedley M. Burrell Soesbe (31), Theresa M. Sullivan (30), Madonna J. Radioactive Waste – Roy D. Capshaw (35). (28), John R. Murphy (23), Charles E. Scaggs Tilman (35), Doreatha D. Williams (23). Security – Joseph S. Purvis (25). (32), Josephine A. Scott (26), Hugh Stewart (34). Oak Ridge – Shirley E. Adams (23), Leonard Field Fossil Energy – Clifford P. Tomaszewski (31). F. Blankner (39), Jerry M. Conley (28), M. Albuquerque – David O. Bourne (30). General Counsel – William J. Dennison Dalton Cooper (37), Judy L. Di Gregorio Bonneville Power – John W. Calvert (40), (27), Steven E. Ferguson (30), Jeanette K. (26), Cheryl E. Estes (26), Janice E. Fife (22), Paul F. Arnold (35), Shirley M. Buckmier Helfrich (21), Edward C. Jiran (33). Inspec- Carolyn W. Fuller (35), Sandra G. Haworth (35), Albert W. Ide (35), Peter W. Kirk (35), tor General – George G. Daugherty (34), (25), J. Christopher Hill (32), Brenda G. Ivey Allen T. Reay (35), John P. Sporysz (35), Rolando Dela-Cruz (36), Henry C. Minner III (23), Betty J. Watson (31), Deborah B. Widener Caroline A. Whitney (35), Joseph F. Bennett (32). Intelligence – Gilbert M. Arriola (36). (30). Pittsburgh Naval Reactors/NNSA – (30), James G. Coleman (30), Stephen P. Management, Budget & Evaluation – Martha N. Rubino (25). Rocky Flats – Ravi Cross (30), Terry L. Hastings (30), Marg C. Kenneth C. Baker (35), Jerome M. Butler Batra (14), Jerry L. Stakebake (9). Sandia Nelson (30), Charles R. Ronsheimer (30), (31), Susan L. Champion (30), Thomas F. Site/NNSA – Robert R. Adair (33), David M. Mark A. Shaw (30), Charles C. Alton (25), Fisher (33), Patricia A. Mason (31), Stephen Anglen (15). Savannah River – Malcolm E. Kurt R. Casad (25), Keith W. Syth (25). Idaho – G. Perin (34), Dean L. Smith (32), Daniel M. Gentry (30), Ronald D. Jernigan (31), Willard Dolores A. Ferri (25), Joan C. Ng (25). Steckler (32), William C. Talbot (36). R. Lyde (30). Savannah River Site/NNSA – Marion R. Moody (25). NETL –Charles J. Drummond (30), Richard NNSA – Peter G. Armstrong (35), Ronald G. D. Rogus (30), Thomas M. Torkos (30), Ater (24), Linda S. Atwell (28), Edward T. Schenectady Naval Reactors/NNSA Richard W. Hammack (25), Kirby C. Cassidy (40), Gerald E. Green (16), Edward T. – John J. Rothrock (25). Nevada Site/NNSA – Dennis Lovett (33), Andrew C. Millunzi (39), Walter F. Le May, Jr. (29), Alfred F. Riccio (33). South- L. Armstrong (25), Irma B. Ginyard (25). Pasedag (27), Garline C. Perry, Jr. (30), Jill D. western Power – Jackie L. Cude (28), Donna NNSA Service Center – Debra A. Allison Williams (18), Alv D. Youngberg (35). Nuclear M. Heslar (42), Jeffrey C. Morman (25), Eddie J. (25), Sally K. Murphree (25), Maria L. Otero Energy – Jo Ann B. Poffinberger (37). Smith (34). Strategic Petroleum Reserve – (25). Oak Ridge – Leslie D. Boggs (30), Radioactive Waste – Sharon L. Skuchko (36), Rose M. Gaillard (29). Western Area Power – Gary S. Hartman (30), Betty J. Gattis (25). Stephan J. Brocoum (22). Science – Jeffrey J. Vicky L. Claassen (36), Ronald R. French (37), Oakland – Kensley Rivera (25). Oakland/ Auchmoody (34), James R. Carney (37), John R. Arlie W. Gordon (36), Robert B. Grundborg NNSA – Wen-Hsiung Kao (25). Pittsburgh Clark (35), Kaye C. Coates (34), Ted W. Griffin (30), Bobbi L. Jensen (11), Duane L. Johnson Naval Reactors/NNSA – William F. Watson (28), Gerald J. Peters (37), Susan L. Rose (28), (29), Ronald H. Miller (34), Irvel N. Morford (30). Richland – Walter J. Pasciak (30), Jean Brenda L. Smith (30), Patricia A. Snyder (37). (30), John P. Rynerson III (35), James R. Schurz F. Schwier (30), Dale H. Splett (30), Donald (34), Leo Wandler (34), R. Steven Warner (34). H. Alexander (25), Oliver A. Farabee (25). Field Sandia Site/NNSA – Stacy K. Kubasek (25). Chicago – Carl G. Ahlberg (31), Julie H. Betz (The February 2004 retirees will be Savannah River – George R. Hannah, Jr. (25), (25), Jean C. Black (34), Mona L. Bradford (20), listed in the next issue.) ❖

March 2004 15 DOE seeks round two March 2004 Office of Science issues clean coal proposals 20-year strategic plan The Department of Energy (DOE) On Feb. 12, 2004, the Department has released a solicitation for a sec- of Energy’s Office of Science issued ond round of proposals under the its Strategic Plan, which charts a Clean Coal Power Initiative (CCPI). course for science over the next DOE plans to provide approximately 20 years that promises dramatic in- $280 million in Federal funds for dem- creases in knowledge and scientific onstrating technologies that sharply achievements. “We worked very reduce and ultimately eliminate pol- closely with the U.S. scientific com- lution in coal-based power plants. munity to identify the scientific Prospective projects must ensure PNNL training programs programs the Office of Science coal is used for at least 75 percent of among industry’s best should pursue over the next two the fuel energy input to the process, Training magazine has selected decades that will enable our nation while electricity is at least 50 percent the Department of Energy’s Pacific to stay at the forefront of innova- of the energy-equivalent output from Northwest National Laboratory tion,” Dr. Raymond L. Orbach, the technology demonstrated. Pro- (PNNL) as having one of the top Director, Office of Science, said. posals also must show the potential 100 training programs among organi- The plan sets seven short-term for rapid market penetration upon zations in a variety of industries, (five to 10 year) scientific priorities, successful demonstration of the tech- ranging from manufacturing to insur- including the ITER fusion science nology concept. Coal gasification ance and banking to government. experiment and nanoscale science system advances and carbon emis- PNNL placed 28th from a field of for new materials and processes. sion management technologies are more than 550 applicants. Seven long-term (10 to 20 year) being strongly encouraged. “We are extremely honored to be scientific goals also have been set. For each project selected by DOE, selected to receive this award from The plan has been developed so industrial sponsors must be willing to Training magazine,” Paul Linnen, that progress toward these and other at least match the Federal-funding Vice President and Director, PNNL scientific programs can be tracked share. A requirement for repayment Human Resources, said. “It acknowl- over the next two decades. from commercially successful tech- edges the investment we make in The Office of Science Strategic nologies will be used to underwrite our people and reinforces the high Plan is a companion to the previ- future clean coal research. The dead- value we place on development and ously released document, Facilities line for proposals is June 15, 2004. training.” for the Future of Science: A Twenty- DOE anticipates selection of winning PNNL’s training programs have Year Outlook. Both documents are projects by the end of the calendar saved an estimated $5.6 million in available on compact disk and in year. More information on CCPI and recruiting, hiring, and relocation printed versions, and can be down- the solicitation are available at costs in the last five years as a result loaded at the Office of Science http://fossil.energy.gov/programs/ of the laboratory’s management skills website, http:// powersytems/cleancoal/. development program. www.science.doe.gov. ❖

United States Department of Energy (PA-40) Washington, DC 20585

Official Business

16 DOE This Month