WIND FARM — The Programmatic EIS, to be prepared by the Bureau of Land Management with EAD’s assistance, will evaluate issues associated with wind energy development on Western public lands administered by the bureau.

Wind Energy program EIS Web site is launched

Argonne's Environmental Assessment Division (EAD) has assisted the U.S. Department of Interior's Bureau of Land Management in launching a new public Information Center for the Wind Energy Development Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The Programmatic EIS, to be prepared by the bureau with EAD's assistance, will evaluate issues associated with wind energy development on Western public lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management.

The Internet-based Programmatic EIS Information Center provides information and services to help the public participate in the EIS process, including information about wind energy development, wind power technology, wind resource maps, the Programmatic EIS contents and process, environmental concerns, public meetings and Native American consultation. Comments can be submitted via the Web site. Other online resources include documents, a list of frequently asked questions and news updates. Users may also subscribe to an e-mail service that provides notification of public meetings and other EIS-related news and events.

The Web site automatically scans attachments for viruses, archives and transfers comments to EAD's Comment Response Management System. It can handle comments submitted from foreign countries and U.S. territories.

During the 90-day public scoping period for the Wind Energy EIS, more than 80 comments were submitted via the Web site's public comment form, and the site received more than 10,000 visits from about 5,000 users.

Karen Smith was the EAD project manager for the Wind Energy EIS project, and Bob Sullivan was the lead for developing and maintaining the Web site.

Myles, Vissers recognized for lifetime achievement

Donald Vissers and Kevin Michael Myles have received the Chemical Engineering Division's (CMT) 2003 Lawroski Award to recognize their consistent excellence in the appplication of science to the solution of difficult engineering challenges. The lifetime achievement award is named after Stephen Lawroski, CMT's first director.

The awards were presented to Vissers and Myles by Harvey Drucker, associate laboratory director for Energy and Environmental Science and Technology, who said they "were instrumental in the development of Argonne's Electrochemical Technology Program, considered to be among the finest in the world."

Both joined Argonne in the 1960s. Myles originally was in the Materials Science Division, where he studied metallic nuclear fuel. He transferred to CMT in 1968, where he helped resolve metallurgical problems associated with pyrochemical reprocessing of nuclear reactor fuels. In subsequent years he managed numerous programs dealing with nuclear and fossil energy development. In 1988 he became Manager of Argonne's Electrochemical Technology Program, where he was responsible for the development of fuel cells and advanced batteries for energy storage and electric vehicle applications. Myles served as CMT associate division director from 1992 to 1999. In 1991 he received a Federal Laboratory Consortium Award for transferring monolithic solid oxide fuel cell technology to industry, and in 1993 an R&D 100 Award for development of ceramic sulfide materials.

Vissers joined CMT in the late 1960s to work in the Sodium Technology Program, where he was a major contributor to the development of the hydrogen activity meter (a meter for accurately measuring hydrogen in sodium) and the moisture leak detector, for detecting water leaking into sodium from the steam generator of a sodium-cooled reactor. He received an IR-100 (now R&D 100) Award for his work on these instruments, which were incorporated into the Experimental Breeder Reactor-II. He then moved into CMT programs aimed at developing advanced batteries, where he played a key role in establishing a strong research program in lithium-ion sulfide and sodium-metal chloride batteries. From 1992 to 1995, Vissers was heavily involved in a major Argonne program with the U.S. Advanced Battery Consortium to develop lithium-iron sulfide batteries for electric vehicles. To the laboratory's benefit, he had the foresight to expand battery research into room-temperature lithium batteries, creating a solid foundation on which to establish new programs. Vissers also was instrumental in recruiting world-class talent for the new battery programs, further enhancing Argonne's capabilities and reputation as a world leader in the area of advanced battery development.

Best safety slogan will win $250

One creative Argonne employee will win $250 for submitting the best safety slogan during a contest now under way.

A prize of $150 will be awarded to the employee with the second-place slogan, and the third-place entry will get $100. The contest is open to all non-executive employees at both Argonne sites.

Online entries are preferred. Paper entries can be dropped off in a box in the lobby of Argonne-East's Building 201 or Argonne-West's L&O Building or sent by interoffice mail to Adam Cohen, assistant laboratory director for ISM, EQO-201. The deadline for entries is Friday, Feb. 6.

There is no limit to the number of entries an employee can submit. If similar or identical slogans are submitted and chosen to receive a prize, the first entry received will be the winner. A committee of representatives from programmatic and operations divisions will choose the top three slogans.

Winners will be announced Monday, March 1.

Child Center now offering kindergarten

The Argonne Child Development Center will offer a full-day kindergarten program beginning in the 2004-2005 school year.

Children who will be five years old by Sept. 1 are eligible to enroll. The curriculum will provide academics and enrichment activities, including language arts and literature, science, mathematics, social sciences, music, art and physical education.

For more information or to register, contact Tonya or Gayle at ext. 2-9601 or childcare@anl.gov.

Live music to accompany silent films on Feb. 6

Tickets for Arts at Argonne's "Two for the Show," a pair of silent films with live musical accompaniment, will be sold this week at lunchtime in the lobby of the Building 213 Cafeteria from noon to 1 p.m.

The films, featuring Silent-era greats Lon Chaney and Harry Langdon, will be shown Friday, Feb. 6, at 7:30 p.m. in Argonne-East's Advanced Photon Source Conference Center Auditorium, Building 402. Live piano accompaniment will be provided by David Drazin, a professional silent-film accompanist who plays regularly for Chicago's Gene Siskel Film Center, and at film screenings around the country.

Tickets are $5. Remaining tickets will be sold in the Auditorium Box Office, which will be open on the day of the performance at 7 p.m.

The concert is open to the public. Visitors who are U.S. citizens need photo identification to enter the site, and should call to register before the concert. Non-U.S. citizens must register before the event. Call (630) 252-3751 during business hours.

More information is online.

High school graduates can assist in lab research

The Division of Educational Programs (DEP) will conduct an eight-week summer program in which local college-bound students participate in laboratory research under the direction of Argonne scientists.

Students must have a grade point average of at least 3.5 on a 4.0 scale; be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident alien; graduate from a local Illinois high school in May or June 2004 and be enrolled to attend college in fall 2004. Participants will receive a stipend of $350 per week.

The program dates are June 14 through Aug. 6. The deadline for receiving complete applications in DEP is 5 p.m. Wednesday, March 31. Application materials have been sent to high school science departments throughout the area. Applications may also be obtained by e-mailing Lisa Reed (DEP) at lreed@ dep.anl.gov.

Medical use of APS is forum topic

Advanced Photon Source User Cha-Mei Tang will discuss "Fabrication of Antiscatter Grids and Collimators for Medical Imaging Using X-Rays from APS" at the Feb. 6 First Friday Forum meeting.

The talk will begin at 12:15 p.m. in Argonne-East's Building 203, Conference Room A114.

The First Friday Forum is an informal gathering of Argonne women usually held on the first Friday of the month. The group explores career and gender issues related to women. Meetings are open to all Argonne and U.S. Department of Energy employees. More information is online; see "On the Web," below.

Do you know...

Each week during Black History Month, "Do You Know..." will focus on the contributions of African-Americans.

Eddie Gay (CMT-retired) made major technical and managerial contributions to the Chemical Technology Division and Argonne. He worked on lithium/iron sulfide batteries, led the National Battery Test Laboratory Testing and Operations Group, participated in the PUREX/TRUEX demonstration program, led the electrometal-lurgical program for processing spent nuclear fuel and was appointed associate division director for the Chemical Technology Division.

The National Organization of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers recognized Gay's contributions with the Percy Julian Award, their highest honor, in 1996.

Employees should verify their benefit deductions

As tax season approaches, employees should verify that their benefit deductions are correct. Non-exempt employees will have medical plan deductions made on a pro-rated basis each pay period. Employees enrolled in medical or day-care flexible spending accounts, or who have changed medical plans during open enrollment, should verify that new payroll deductions are correct.

Report discrepancies in elected benefits to Connie Rekar (HR) at ext. 2-6873.

Discount `Turbo Tax' software
available from Fidelity

Turbo Tax is available from Fidelity Investments so employees can complete their 2003 federal and state tax returns online.

Employees who purchase Turbo Tax for the Web through Fidelity can save 50 percent from the retail price.

For more information, contact Fidelity Investments at 1-800-343-0860 or visit the company's Web site and click on the TurboTax announcement under "News and Features."

Valentine's Day run is planned

The Argonne Running Club will host a Valentine's Day run Friday, Feb. 13, starting from the lobby of Building 200 at noon.

Runners will cover three miles, and the walking course is two miles. Employees and guests of all ability levels are welcome. Refreshments will be served after the event.

More information about the Argonne Running Club is online.

Health fair offers heart, cholesterol screening

A Health Fair will be conducted from 8 a.m. to noon on Tuesday, Feb. 17, in Argonne-East's Building 213 Cafeteria.

The FitForums HeartCheck includes a finger-stick cholesterol profile, fasting glucose, body mass index measurement, blood pressure check and heart attack risk assessment will be available for a $5 fee. Brochures and giveaways will also be available.

Registration deadline is Tuesday, Feb. 10. For more information or to register, contact the Medical Department at ext. 2-2800.

CIS Classes

Classes offered by Computing and Instrumentation Solutions are held in Argonne-East's Building 201, Room 167C.

Unless otherwise specified, class sizes are limited to eight participants. Complete computer class descriptions, schedules and enrollment forms are available online.

For information about enrollment, contact Diane Cavazos (CIS) at ext. 2-7153 or dkcavazos @anl.gov.

February classes include:

"Beginning Unix" (CIS564) -- Session one is Tuesday, Feb. 24, 9 a.m. - noon. Session two is Thursday, Feb. 26, 9 a.m. - noon.

"Vi Editor in Unix" (CIS567) -- Friday, Feb. 27, 9 a.m. - noon.

Questions about Social Security to be answered

A representative of the Social Security Administration's Joliet office, will visit Argonne-East's Human Resources office Wednesday, Feb. 18, from 8 a.m. to noon.

The representative can:

Enroll employees in Social Security.

Take applications for new social security cards, including original cards for newborns, corrected cards due to marriage, or replacement cards.

Help with earnings posting problems.

Answer general questions about the social security program.

To schedule a meeting, call ext. 2-2989.

Retirement vendors to visit ANL-E

Argonne's retirement vendors will send representatives to Argonne-East during February to answer employees' questions about their retirement plan and retirement plan assets. To schedule an appointment with these representatives, call the number listed.

Fidelity -- Tuesday, Feb. 17, and Tuesday, Feb. 24. Call the appointment desk at (800) 642-7131.

TIAA-CREF -- Wednesday Feb. 17, and Friday, Feb. 18. Call the appointment desk at (800) 842-2005.

Prudential -- Wednesday, Feb. 4, and Wednesday, Feb. 18. Call Cheryl at (847) 619-3519.