tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28220200.post9068946915247124657..comments2023-08-27T06:53:36.768-06:00Comments on LANL: The Rest of the Story: Frank Younghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02134775226991383924noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28220200.post-6123941716240682382007-10-29T09:49:00.000-06:002007-10-29T09:49:00.000-06:00For the coming financial storm, the government see...For the coming financial storm, the government seems to be taking the approach known in football as the 'look out' block.<BR/><BR/>In this approach, the center says to the quarterback,<BR/><BR/>"Look out, here he comes."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28220200.post-37298197167234842402007-10-28T22:08:00.000-06:002007-10-28T22:08:00.000-06:00Congress has no desire for anything other than the...Congress has no desire for anything other than the last option, 50 or less pits per year probably done using moderate upgrades to TA-55. The actual pit production numbers will likely be much less than 50 per year. <BR/><BR/>NNSA's infrastructure is destined to be downsized beyond what even D'Agostino has envisioned. As for LANL, the Congressional cuts will reduce the workforce size by about a third over the next 2 to 3 years. This will happen regardless of how Terry or Mike may feel about the scenario. They will be forced to execute continuing cuts due to the declining incoming dollars. Large swaths of the TSM workforce will be especially hard hit by layoffs.<BR/><BR/>The decision to proceed with big cuts has likely been made in the hushed corridors of Washington DC by those who now control the purse strings on both sides of the aisle. Even most of the NM delegation seems to have no qualms about drastic cutbacks at LANL.<BR/><BR/>Do whatever you can to prepare for the financial storm heading our way. It's going to get very ugly at LANL as we proceed down the path that Congress has planned for us.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28220200.post-30135546522569330482007-10-28T13:31:00.000-06:002007-10-28T13:31:00.000-06:00Guess some people are thinking the first option be...Guess some people are thinking the first option below is going to happen, and Pantex gets chosen. LANL is a lock if the second or third option is chosen.<BR/><BR/>From the NOI:<BR/><BR/>http://www.nnsa.doe.gov/docs/<BR/>newsreleases/2006/<BR/>Complex_2030_NOI_10-19-06.pdf<BR/><BR/>Notice of Intent To Prepare a Supplement to the Stockpile Stewardship and Management Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement—Complex 2030<BR/><BR/><BR/>[1]--"The Proposed Action-Transform to a More Modern, Cost-Effective Nuclear Weapons Complex (Complex 2030)"<BR/>...<BR/>"Select a site to construct and operate a consolidated plutonium center for long-term R&D, surveillance, and manufacturing operations for a baseline capacity of 125 qualified pits per year at a site with existing Category I/II SNM."<BR/>...<BR/>"The DOE sites that will be considered as potential locations for the consolidated plutonium center and consolidation of Category I/II SNM include: Los Alamos, Nevada Test Site, Pantex Plant, Y–12 National Security Complex, and the Savannah River Site. Other DOE sites are not considered reasonable alternative locations because they do not satisfy certain criteria such as population encroachment, or mission<BR/>compatibility or synergy with the site’s existing mission."<BR/><BR/><BR/>[2]--"No Action Alternative - The No Action Alternative represents the status quo as it exists today and is presently planned."<BR/><BR/>Table:<BR/>"Pits --- X --- LANL" (Only Site with an X in Table)<BR/><BR/><BR/>[3]--"Reduced Operations and Capability-Based Complex Alternative - In this alternative, NNSA would maintain a basic capability for manufacturing technologies for all stockpile weapons, as well as laboratory and experimental capabilities to support stockpile decisions, but would reduce production facilities to a "capability based" capacity. This alternative would not have a production capacity sufficient to meet current national security objectives."<BR/>....<BR/>"Do not construct and operate a consolidated plutonium center for longterm R&D, surveillance, and manufacturing operations; and do not expand pit production at LANL beyond 50 certified pits per year."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com