How did it come to this?
By Ralph Damiani, The Los Alamos Monitor - OpinionWe have to admit, we were a bit confused – and surprised – by the filings notices of tort claims by the Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration and Los Alamos National Laboratory against Los Alamos County.
Why has this not been resolved already? What is the motive here?
The notices pertain to a Feb. 21 incident that reportedly occurred while the Los Alamos Fire Department was conducting training at a LANL parking structure.
The fire drill reportedly involved connecting a pumper truck to a stand pipe within the parking structure and then pressurizing the fire protection system with water.
Not long after starting this operation – according to the claim – a portion of the fire protection piping failed, causing damage to the parking structure.
Los Alamos National Security said it conducted an investigation and determined the failure of the fire protection piping was caused by the negligent “over pressurization” of the system by firefighters involved.
This is where we get lost. If there is a community that has a first-class fire department, it is Los Alamos. We have the best.
If they did indeed make a mistake – which would be rare – it seems to us that they would be the first to admit it and do what is right. The fact that this has reached this level indicates to us something else is going on.
Is there?
And the county would not run from a legitimate issue where it might have done something wrong. Max Baker and the county staff are way too honorable to hide from responsibility.
So what is going on?
County Attorney Mary McInerny confirmed the filing and said, “The notice is an administrative process to let the governmental entity know they may attempt to collect on a claim.”
But why this route? Is there so little communication between the county and the lab that a legal action is necessary?
We find it impossible to believe that if the county had been simply notified they would not have done the right thing if they were responsible.
We find it very disappointing – and upsetting – that a legal action was found to be necessary here.
28 comments:
There's no communication between the lab management and its employees, so why would anyone expect communication in this situation?
As a recent example, Look at the fiasco concerning the Lab and its treatment of long-time contract workers, recently dumped into the inferior COMPA contracting company.
Or how about the moronic new performance evaluation "system" and timeline.
What'sa matta? You don't like having you year-end performance review six weeks after your mid-year review?
For several years, Damiani has been editorializing in the Monitor that LANL is a business, and that it should act solely in the interest of its shareholders. LANL's current actions are consistent with what Damiani exhorted LANL to do. And now he's "surprised" that LANL acted that way.
"If they did indeed make a mistake – which would be rare – it seems to us that they would be the first to admit it and do what is right."
Oh puleezz... Only Kevin Roark could spew more BS.
Damiani: the premier journalist of Los Alamos county. Bask in the brilliance of his penetrating commentary.
Does anyone still believe that LANS LLC gives a rat's ass about Los Alamos County or its citizens? Come on, get real!
The strings controlling LANL are now pulled by the people over at Bechtel HQ. They are milking this place for whatever they can get out of it. Suing is just another profit line item in the spread sheet for these folks. It's their way of doing business. Get use to it because more is on the way.
Does anyone know if it is legal in the LANL contract for Bechtel to get kickbacks or some other funds from these shell companies? The new process of buying computers through some company or COMPA with its Bechtel ties come to mind. If it is illegal to misuse taxpayer funds to up its profit taking from LANL, I hope thet get sued....
To 11:57 am - it's probably legal because Bush and Cheney told D'Agnostino it is. I used to anticipate that the IG or the office of contract compliance or the FBI would have already stopped all the shady practices by LANS but I've come to the conclusion that these shady practices are allowed as part of the contract. President Obama wants to bring jobs back to the federal workforce; I'm wondering why it's taking so long for him to address the plunder at LANL. But when Bechtel has more contract power than the President of the United States, we know nothing will change.
4:58 pm: "President Obama wants to bring jobs back to the federal workforce; I'm wondering why it's taking so long for him to address the plunder at LANL."
The answer is absolutely obvious. No one in government thinks LANL has any importance at all. It's time for LANL-ites to get over themselves and find a life elsewhere. LANL's downward spiral will not be turned around. You're already dead, so fall over.
Ralph Damiani whimpers, "How did it come to this?"
Well, Ralph: simple answer. Government-sponsored corporate plundering of a national laboratory. You wanted it: you got it.
Happy?
BTW, Ralph: As the economic fortunes of LANL decline, so do the economic fortunes of Los Alamos county. And that, my poor simple-minded journalist wannabe, will directly impact the already meager cash flow of the prestigious Los Alamos Monitor, in turn.
Each time I read a commentary in the Los Alamos Monitor, I am reminded of how uninformed and out of touch both, the Newspaper and the gereral public is regarding matters at the Lab. The Monitor has a chance, if they would hire someone ...a retiree, that still has connections within the lab, they may be suprised at what really goes on.
I doubt that would ever be allowed, 6:43. The Monitor has always been the company town newspaper. The editors have always shied away from stories and commentary that reflected poorly on LANL management.
Your suggestion is an excellent one, however.
I'd love to see the Monitor write a genuine expose' of the LANS management of LANL. That would be like Mo and Larry testifying against Curly.
6:19 pm: "BTW, Ralph: As the economic fortunes of LANL decline, so do the economic fortunes of Los Alamos county. And that, my poor simple-minded journalist wannabe, will directly impact the already meager cash flow of the prestigious Los Alamos Monitor, in turn."
It's not just that. After about 25 years of subscribing to the Monitor, I quit a couple of years ago because the delivery kid would not get it closer than 100 feet, and had unerring aim for the mud puddle. No amount of comnplaining worked, and I was told "take it or leave it." This from a paper that used to "guarantee" delivery to the porch before 5 pm. I voted with my feet. I don't see any Monitor kids in my neighborhood anymore. As a paperboy in my youth, I find this sad. Priviledge has its disadvantages (like not developing a work ethic).
I don't miss the one page of (old) news and two pages of high school sports I don't care about, plus classified ads I don't care about, and comics I already saw this morning in the ABQ Journal (itself not a sterling news sourrce, but at least something to read with my coffee, with national sources and columnists).
It's not just that. After about 25 years of subscribing to the Monitor, I quit a couple of years ago because the delivery kid would not get it closer than 100 feet, and had unerring aim for the mud puddle. No amount of comnplaining worked, and I was told "take it or leave it."
Now, you kids get off of my lawn!!
It seems counter intuitive, but the future of Los Alamos as a community would be better served if LANL did become less important and smaller.
I'd rather the world class mountain biking, a few ski bums, and people that enjoy a good hike be the things we're known for rather than a lab.
Look what the six figure paychecks buy us. A lot of material things, but very little comfort.
8:52,
I've often considered how much better the Los Alamos area would be today if the government had never confiscated the Pajarito Plateau, leaving it in an undisturbed condition. Can you imagine how much more pleasant this part of northern New Mexico would be today?
Absent that, a mothballed LANL is not a bad alternative, if you could ignore all of the environmental damage that has been done since 1943.
8:53 pm: "I'd rather the world class mountain biking, a few ski bums, and people that enjoy a good hike be the things we're known for rather than a lab."
No economic base there. You'd be living in a shanty town like all those others in Northern New Mexico. Los Alamos would look like Truchas or Penasco. How will "world class mountain bikers" live in a town where nobody can afford world class mountain bikes? Or will you just day-trip in and complain that there's no Starbucks and no place to get lunch?
As opposed to the wide selection of excellent restaurants we have now.
"Look what the six figure paychecks buy us. A lot of material things, but very little comfort.
6/2/09 8:52 PM"
How true look at how miserable people in Manhattan and Aspen are. You are a very deep thinker full of insights gained from facts.
Viva la facts!
"Look what the six figure paychecks buy us. A lot of material things, but very little comfort." - 8:52 PM
I'm easy. Just provide me with $99,999 per year for the rest of my life (inflation indexed, of course) and you'll hear no complaints from me.
"Look what the six figure paychecks buy us. A lot of material things, but very little comfort." - 8:52 PM
Astute you are and yes money cannot buy comfort. It does help with education for your kids, peace of mind, things that help with your elderly parents, a nice place to live, healthy food, travel, reliable car, retirement, and a safe neighborhood. Other than that any many other things you are right no comfort whatsoever
Info is now public. LANS sent barrels full of capacitors laden with PCBs to the community landfill several weeks ago and it was treated as regular waste. Hopefully all the county workers are getting tested as PCBs readily permeate skin. If Mikey's bonus isn't adversely impacted by this monumental blunder then there is no NNSA,LOL.
"How did it come to this?", you ask?
Easy to explain.
Congress first set up a completely broken agency full of clueless idiots called NNSA and put them in charge of the weapons complex.
NNSA then followed this up by placing a sleazy, for-profit *CONSTRUCTION* company in charge of the lab's management and then the corporate carpet baggers all rushed in to Los Alamos to grab their booty.
Now do you understand, Mr. Damiani?
The LANSCE Area-A building would make a most-excellent basketball arena. Only thing lacking is the other LA's Pro Basketball Team.
Ralph Damiani is a clueless buffoon. Too bad for the town.
Stupid newspaper, the Monitor. Didn't get a paper two days last week...they don't even care when you call in. I have a tube on a post for the paper. Kid drops paper in gutter under the tube. XXX!
9:52 pm: "Stupid newspaper, the Monitor. Didn't get a paper two days last week...they don't even care when you call in. I have a tube on a post for the paper. Kid drops paper in gutter under the tube. XXX!"
That's why I cancelled my subscription two years ago (after 25 years of subscribing). What a lousy business and a crappy paper. One-half page of "news" with two pages of high-school sports and three pages of classifieds selling Monitor pallets. What a joke. I live in Los Alamos, but the Monitor has nothing to say that I'm interested in. There are really fantastic local papers in the US; this isn't one of them.
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