Staff reports
NS&D Monitor
5/16/2014
Oak Ridge National Laboratory Director Thom Mason said he’d received positive feedback on the work of the Red Team that recommended major changes in the strategy to secure the future of uranium missions at the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge. Mason headed up the effort and initially briefing then-acting NNSA Administrator Bruce Held, who asked the ORNL director to do a quick but comprehensive review of the uranium operations at Y-12 and come up an alternative to Uranium Processing Facility, which appeared to be on its way to out-pricing its bipartisan support in Congress and other circles.
He later briefed new National Nuclear Security Administration chief Frank Klotz after the retired Air Force lieutenant general was confirmed and sworn-in at the Department of Energy. “I think most of the people I’ve spoken with seem to think it’s a good outline for a potential path forward,” Mason said. “I think most of the people I’ve spoken with think there is a need to modernize the facilities, but it has to be done within a cost-constrained environment. Hopefully, there’ll be a solution.”
According to Mason, both Held and Klotz were receptive to the Red Team’s proposed alternative strategy, though Klotz last week appeared to raise questions about one of the team’s major recommendations: moving control of the projects out of the Office of Acquisition and Project Management and to the Office of Defense Programs. “I for one am very impressed with the success so far of the Office of Acquisition and Project management,” Klotz said last week. “I think they have already demonstrated a number of different areas by bringing a professional expertise in managing large capital construction projects—a track record so far which argues for continuing to build upon that capability.”
The report also called for reducing the amount of new construction and relying on more extensive use of existing facilities at Y-12. By relocating some of the existing uranium operations to other buildings, such as the Highly Enriched Uranium Materials Facilities, the Beta-2E facility and Building 9215, NNSA can reduce the amount of new construction needed and stand a better chance of vacating the aged 9212 complex by 2015 and keeping the overall price tag under $6.5 billion, the report concluded.
Fleischmann Supportive of Red Team Work
While the verdict is still out on the NNSA’s decision, the Red Team report appears to have won at least one convert: Rep. Chuck Fleischman (R-Tenn.), whose congressional district includes Oak Ridge and who sits on the key House Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee. Back in February, when the Red Team was just getting organized, Fleischmann seemed lukewarm to the development of alternative strategies for UPF and stated repeatedly and emphatically that the UPF would be built. “Well, let me make this clear,” the Republican congressman said in a February interview. “I’ve had discussions with the Secretary (of Energy Ernest Moniz), with the (House Appropriations) committee. We are committed to UPF, I am committed to the UPF, our great community is committed to the UPF, so we’re going to build the UPF.”
In a brief interview this week, Fleischmann said he’d read the Red Team report and was “encouraged” by it. “My commitment is to make sure we build UPF,” he said. “I want to make sure the taxpayers get the most bang for their buck. I think the Red Team report does that and does that well. It’s a different approach from the initial inception, but we need a source for enriched uranium. I’m committed to having the UPF built. I want it built in Oak Ridge. This seems to be the only vehicle to accomplish that goal. So, in that regard, I’m going to be present to cooperate and work to make sure that UPF is funded and that the project moves forward.”
‘I Just Want to Make Sure it’s Done Here in Oak Ridge’
Asked about his earlier position, which appeared to support UPF as originally envisioned, Fleischmann said, “No, not necessarily. Bear this in mind: The nation needs enriched uranium. There are far greater engineering minds, scientific minds, that know the best form and function for that to take place. I just want to make sure it’s done here in Oak Ridge and that it’s done at UPF. We’ve got to get out of these antiquated facilities (at Y-12) and the nation needs enriched uranium. So, I’m a proponent of the process and the fact that it has changed design as a result of the Red Team report, I’m going to continue to support the project.”
Asked if he thought the Red Team’s report might make the UPF project more palatable for some people, Fleischmann responded: “Sure. Absolutely. Because it addresses the fact that the original design was not going to be feasible for a lot of reasons, and you’d much rather have them address that now than before they get a shovel in the ground and address that later.”
