Mike Nartker
WC Monitor
2/28/2014
The Department of Energy has launched a new public search for candidates to fill on a permanent basis the long-vacant position of Site Lead for the Paducah site. Earlier this month, DOE posted the position for a second time on the USAJobs.gov website, and is accepting applications through March 4. According to the posting, the role of Paducah Site Lead is intended to serve as “the Federal Project Director for all environmental compliance projects and activities at the site” and will be “responsible for the planning, direction and management of the Paducah Operations Oversight Group,” among other duties.
The position of Paducah Site Lead has not been filled on a full-time basis for almost a year now (WC Monitor, Vol. 24 No. 5). The last person to hold the position on a permanent basis—Reinhard Knerr—was detailed in August 2012 to serve as federal project director for the return of the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant from USEC; and was permanently assigned to the position last March. Since then, the position of Paducah Site Lead has been held in an acting capacity by Regulatory and Environmental Policy Advisor Rachel Blumenfeld. The DOE Office of Environmental Management largely declined to comment on the search for a new Paducah site lead this week. “Rachel Blumenfeld is the acting Paducah site lead. Ms. Blumenfeld will continue to successfully lead the Paducah site operations until such time as DOE makes a permanent selection for the position,” an EM spokeswoman said in a written response.
