EM Weekly Report - 02/23/01

[Susan Gawarecki <loc@icx.net>]

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT WEEKLY REPORT - February 23, 2001

I	Schedule

II	Key Departmental News

WIPP Workers Reach Two Million Man-Hours Without a Lost-Time Accident: 
Workers at the DOE Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) reached a safety
milestone on February 19, by working two million man-hours without a
lost-time accident.  Safe hours include those worked by employees of DOE
and contractors associated with WIPP.
Media Interest:  Local
Program Contact:  Dennis Hurtt, 505-234-7327

INEEL Receives Two Awards for Excellence in Technology Transfer:  The
Federal Laboratory Consortium (FLC) announced last week that the INEEL
won two 2001 FLC Awards for Excellence in Technology Transfer.  The two
winning technologies are the High Void-Fraction Multiphase Flowmeter and
the Rapid Solidifcation Process (RSP) Tooling Process for Manufacturing
Prototype and Production Tooling.  Each year the FLC awards 35
technologies that are being successfully deployed in the commercial
sector.  Hundreds of technologies from all federal facilities are
submitted for consideration.  The FLC will honor all award recipients
during a ceremony to be held during the FLC's 2001 National Meeting in
Burlington, VT on May 1.  DOE HQ representatives will attend to accept
the awards and recognize the recipients.
Media Interest:  Local
Program Contact:  A. Michelle Pettingill, 208-526-0158

Congressman Mark Udall and Staff Visit Rocky Flats:  Congressman Udall,
and staff visited the Rocky Flats Environmental Technology Site on
February 16.  The Congressman requested a briefing on the
reconfiguration of the protected area, due to recent concerns expressed
by the Site's Guards union.  The Guards, Steelworkers and Building
Trades Unions participated.
Media Interest:  None
Program Contact:  Karen Lutz, 303-966-4546

Meeting with Idaho Congressional Delegation and Governor Kempthorne:
Idaho's congressional delegation and Governor Dirk Kempthorne attended a
meeting with DOE-Idaho and Bechtel BWXT Idaho, LLC (BBWI) on February 17
for status discussions.  Topics included the transfer of the Grand
Junction Project Office, out-year funding projections, present and
future work force profiles, and status of Settlement Agreement
milestones. 
Media Interest:  Local
Program Contact:  Ron King, 208-526-7300

Hanford K-Basins Spent Nuclear Fuel Project Removes Third Multi-Canister
Overpack (MCO):  The Third MCO was successfully dried at the Cold Vacuum
Drying Facility over the weekend and was transported to the Canister
Storage Building on February 20.  It was placed in the vault on February
21.  Fuel is continuing to be processed and baskets filled for MCO #4. 
Media Interest:  None
Program Contact:  Tom Hull, 301-903-5677

Possible Siting of Future National Underground Laboratory at WIPP: A
National Science Foundation committee evaluating the possibility of
siting a National Underground Laboratory at WIPP toured the site on
February 15-16.  Senator Domenici and Representative Skeen, both of New
Mexico, were present to support the selection of WIPP as the site for
the National Underground Laboratory at which cosmology and astronomy
experiments would be conducted.  The Congressmen also participated in a
local news conference expressing support for the expanded mission at
WIPP.
Media Interest:  Local				
Program Contact:  Timothy Harms, 301-903-7183

Rocky Flats Annual State of the Flats Public Meeting:  The Annual State
of the Flats meeting was held on February 20 at the Arvada Center.  Over
100 people attended the meeting; the new format with breakout sessions
was very well received.  Presentations focused on the work accomplished,
progress made in fiscal year 2000 toward closure of the Site and plans
for the future. 
Media Interest:  Local 
Program Contact:  Karen Lutz, 303-966-4546

Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) Shipments:  As of February 21, WIPP
has received 153 shipments (17-LANL, 42?INEEL, 89-RFETS, and 5-Hanford)
since March 1999.  WIPP is scheduled to receive six shipments this week
from RFETS and INEEL.  Three shipments from RFETS and three from INEEL,
weather permitting.
Media Interest:  None
Program Contact:  Mary Bisesi, 301-903-7416

III	Work on Secretarial Initiatives
IV	Press Inquiries
V	FOIA Requests
VI	Grants, Economic Announcements and Publications
VII	Climate Change
VIII	Disaster Assistance
-- 
.....................................................
Susan L. Gawarecki, Ph.D., Executive Director
Oak Ridge Reservation Local Oversight Committee
                       -----                       
A schedule of meetings on DOE issues is posted on our Web site
http://www.local-oversight.org/meetings.html - E-mail loc@icx.net
.....................................................
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