Last updated Aug. 26, 2004

Ask the Directorate

[Go straight to the answers]

"Ask the Directorate" gives employees an opportunity to ask senior Argonne management about the laboratory's operations, policy, strategy, mission, budget, and goals.

Employees should continue to refer job- or workplace-specific questions to their immediate supervisors.

Employees may submit questions to askthedirectorate@anl.gov or fax them to 2-5274. Only questions that include the name of the questioner and contact information, such as email address, office extension or fax number, will be answered.

An appropriate member of the Argonne Directorate -- Argonne Director Hermann Grunder, Chief Scientist Robert Rosner, Deputy Laboratory Director Don Joyce or Chief Operating Officer Mike Derbidge -- will answer each question, and the answer will be sent directly to the employee.

In addition, the Argonne News will periodically print selected responses, and all answers will be posted on this page. Questioners will remain anonymous in the Argonne News and on the Web.

Answers

Aug. 23, 2004

Q. I am recently handicapped and find the walk on crutches from the handicapped spots in Building 201 to the elevators a very long walk, and this is followed by a second long hike after I reach my floor. These walks are very tiring for someone on crutches. It would be nice to have a couple of chairs or a sofa or bench at the elevators on each floor so that I could rest. The cost would be minimal and greatly benefit those who get tired with the long walks to their offices.

A. You will note that chairs have now been placed between the elevators on the first and second floors of 201, which we hope will provide a suitable resting point.

As for informal places to talk, we note that there is seating in 201 on the first floor near the coffee stand, the second floor around the corner from the elevators in procurement and opposite them near DOE, and on the third floor around the corner from the elevators. While the area on the first floor and near DOE on the second are some distance from the elevators, we trust they meet the needs of visitors.

June 7, 2004

Q: Given the request earlier this year that staff take 10 days of vacation this summer, has the laboratory ever considered closing down for an assigned two-week period for summer vacation (similar to the Christmas/New Years break)? It may create a needed morale booster for employees and would definitely help reduce vacation accrual liability.

A: One of the most valued aspects of vacation is the flexibility to use it as you wish. Unlike the year-end holiday season, which is generally a highly prized vacation time, the rest of the year does not carry consensus, and mandating two specific summer weeks off would eliminate choice for the majority of each individual's days.

For the lab, closing during the summer would have a negative impact on the current practice of employees taking vacations on varying schedules.

Q. The laboratory appears to make it difficult for employees to access Argonne information online from home. When I've gone to the web site and tried to view job opportunities, employee handbook, etc., I've been stopped with a message indicating that my system needs to have 128-bit encryption. Aren't job opportunities supposed to be available to the general public? What does one have to do to access this information (along with the employee online information proposed for 2004)?

A. Job opportunities, procurement opportunities and a wide range of other intentionally public information is available to computers off-site, provided they have browsers with 128-bit encryption capabilities. These pages, though they require such browsers, are not encrypted. However, while all major browsers released in recent years support 128-bit encryption and though we make every effort to make such public information available, it is impossible to meet the requirements of all browsers.

Other information, such as the employee handbook and other policy materials, is proprietary and not intended for public access. It is only available through the Inside Argonne web site. Making it available to all home computers would make the site and our internal networks vulnerable. Therefore, Inside Argonne can only be accessed from computers at Argonne or from off-site computers that have been specifically enabled. Off-site computers are set up with secure access when an employee has a business need to access internal information when away from the laboratory. Doing so requires the approval of the individual's division director.

In sum, you can bring up any public information on any computer that uses one of the many browsers that support 128-bit encryption. You can reach proprietary or private information only from Argonne computers or from an outside computer set up for such access.

 If you have specific information you are not able to access from home that you believe should be public, please report it to the Help Desk at 2-9999 and it will be reviewed.

June 1, 2004

Q: Is there an active wildlife management program ensuring the health of the sometimes revered, sometimes reviled lords of our manor, the famous white deer of Argonne National Laboratory, so that future generations can enjoy these Midwest treasures? It is obvious to even the common observer that with their limited population, they are inbreeding their way to extinction on this property. All the males I saw during the winter had some form of malformation: Uneven or just plain missing antlers. I do not have information on their history, origin or the role they're supposed to play here, but I have never heard of nor seen these beautiful animals in any zoo or documentary and assume they are rare, at least around here.

These beauties aren't the only creatures we should be treasuring. We have hawks, falcons, coyote, snapping turtles and many more. I would love to see a facility on the lab or in conjunction with our neighbors, the DuPage County Forest Preserve, to educate people on our diverse and rich ecology. We can teach our many tours and visitors more than just particle beams, chemistry and physics. We can teach them how these sciences can be a benefit to these animals: How long would many of them survive if not for the protective enclosure of this scientific research facility? On the other hand, how many chemists or physicists have taken a walk amidst Argonne's nature to unwind, relax and come back to work the better for it?

A: The Department of Energy and Argonne, in consultation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, have a land management and habitat restoration program. It is designed to integrate the native species you mention and others into our site while reducing maintenance, improving erosion and flood control, reducing air pollution, increasing biodiversity and preserving and restoring high-quality non-developed areas -- wetlands, prairie, woodlands, and savannas. We have been quite pleased with the ongoing results of the program.

The white deer -- actually fallow deer native to northern Africa, Asia Minor and southern Europe -- are feral, having roamed the area since about 1940 after being brought here by a previous private owner of part of what is now Argonne. The herd is not the property of the laboratory. Being non-native, the deer's gene pool is, indeed, limited, though the antler imbalance you note is likely the result of normal winter shedding rather than of genetic weakness. And since they are non-native, finding breeding stock and bringing it here suggests problems that have developed in other ecosystems where there have been non-native animal populations.

As to developing a nature education facility here, we are severely limited by ongoing security concerns, but are indeed grateful that our staff can enjoy the reborn beauty of our site. As for the Forest Preserve District, it has its own program, separate from ours, and is taking similar but more extensive actions in Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve. While the programs are completely separate, we do keep each other informed about what we're doing.

May 10, 2004

Q. I've noticed that there are new vending machines at Argonne-East.  Everyone who gets a soda from the vending machine does not necessarily want a large, 20-ounce soda. Why do the vending machines no longer carry 12-ounce sodas?  Likewise, why were the Coke machines replaced? The vending machines I've seen have only a limited number of Cokes. Has the lab agreed to sell almost exclusively Pepsi?

A. The Illinois Department of Human Services, Business Enterprise Program for the Blind (BEPB), asked the Department of Energy (DOE) to grant a permit to operate vending services at Argonne-East. DOE did this, in accordance with existing law, in December 2003.

BEPB installed new vending machines, concentrating on 20-ounce bottles because their operating experience shows the industry has moved from 12-ounce cans to the bottles, which are deemed more desirable because of resealable caps and potentially fewer spills.

BEPB's decision to use Pepsi products was based on the ability to offer a wider selection of other Pepsi products (various juices, energy drinks, Gatorade, Starbucks chilled coffee, etc.), which can be found either in the Pepsi machines or in the beverage machines installed in some of the larger buildings.

Recognizing that there are probably employees who prefer Coke, BEPB added bottles of these products to the beverage machines.  Also, Coke products are available on site in the cafeteria as fountain drinks or in 20-ounce bottles and at the service station in 8-ounce glass bottles, 12-ounce cans, or 20-ounce bottles.

May 3, 2004

Q. Central Shops is a very good machine shop with all kinds of capabilities to service the laboratory. The convenience of using a machine shop on site can be extremely valuable. The problem is their prices are high, sometimes twice as much for machined parts as outside shops. Is there some way Central Shops' pricing can become more competitive?

A. During FY 2003, an oversight committee of Argonne managers reviewed Central Shops' services and operations. As part of their extensive effort, they surveyed customers, who generally conveyed similar feedback to that in your letter.

Central Shops has initiatives underway to improve economic performance and competitive rate structures:

Activity-based costing and a computerized shop management system to accurately cost operations, schedule and manage equipment and personnel resources, and provide timely and accurate feedback to customers.

A long-term equipment upgrade plan to enhance technological capabilities and competitiveness by using state-of-the-art computer-aided manufacturing and computer numerical control machines.

An initiative to actively work with Argonne's customer base to help with fabrication requirements and expedite work either in-house or through outsourcing.

These initiatives aim to reduce the costs of doing business and recapture some of the manufacturing activity in-house. Increased use of services would spread fixed costs over a larger base, helping reduce the service rate.

We appreciate your complimentary remarks regarding the convenience and capabilities of Central Shops and its employees, who hope these new initiatives will help address concerns regarding the competitive costs of work they perform.

April 26, 2004

Q. When our budgets are approved for each fiscal year, how do we let employees know they've been signed and whether they are flat or up/down?

A. The DOE budget each year consists of many different appropriations. In FY 2004, for example, there were 13, of which two provided most of Argonne's funding: Interior and Energy & Water.  These two were signed by the president in November and December, respectively, along with four other appropriations, but the others took longer. The status of each bill and funding is provided to the associate laboratory director offices for dissemination to division directors, program managers and financial representatives. 

Argonne also receives funding from other federal agencies and private sponsors. The overall status of our financial picture is provided to management and associate laboratory directors on a regular basis. Projections for FY2004 funding reflect a slight increase for Argonne over last year.

The financial status of any individual program or division should be discussed with the appropriate division director.

April 19, 2004

Q. I'm concerned about the practice of posting the number of consecutive hours worked without a lost-time injury. While the lab is rightly proud of its safety record, my experience in industry is that publicizing such a record is counterproductive. As the streak grows, real pressure mounts on individuals to avoid being the person who breaks it. The result is that injuries go unreported.

In eight years in industry I witnessed many minor injuries that people treated themselves rather than reporting. One of my colleagues sustained a serious injury for which he was treated at the company medical department, but rather than going home to rest as he was told, he returned to work so the injury would not be of the "lost time" variety. Then there was a friend who discovered a trail of blood drops leading from the lab to the parking lot, apparently because an injured person had sought off-site treatment rather than report to the medical department. Management eventually dropped the record-posting practice, and then they had to work hard to remove the stigma associated with reporting injuries. While injuries are to be avoided, they must be treated properly when they do happen.

A. Argonne's management believes safety is important, and the justifiable celebration of a significant accomplishment — such as 2.2 million hours without a lost-time accident — provides us with an opportunity to underscore that. At the same time, such accomplishments should be duly noted but not trumpeted forever. In fact, the string was already ended when we celebrated, and we have had three incidents with lost-time reported since then.

Certainly, any message we offer on safety, such as the signs about the record, needs to be balanced with our continuing message that we expect everyone to observe all safety precautions and to report all incidents so we can monitor and enhance conditions. While we desire zero injuries (who would not?), we expect that, if an injury does occur, it will be reported promptly and evaluated, and that appropriate corrective actions will be taken. 

April 5, 2004

Q: Over the past year or two, the Argonne—East security force has changed vehicles from Nissan Altimas to Chevrolet Silverado pickups. Why were economical sedans replaced with pickups? The pickups purchased are mostly 4x4 V8 models that are twice the price of the Altima, and obtain half the fuel economy. I don't see the need for the pickups for patrolling the site, and the regular cab models don't have the interior room that the Altima had. This seems like government waste.

A: A precise apples-to-apples cost comparison is not possible, but based on operating efficiency and expenses for leasing, maintenance and fuel, the Silverados cost about $20,000 less per year than the Altimas. Plus, the Silverados are better suited to heightened roles in emergency response and security and safeguards since 9-11.

The Silverados are leased through the General Services Administration (GSA), which does not offer passenger vehicles for these roles. Silverados have been twice as effective as Nissans for perimeter patrols, winter operations, emergency and first response.

As to cost:

Per-unit lease costs for the Silverados are less than half those of Nissans.

Fuel economy differences are not as significant as you suggest.

Nissan maintenance and repair costs were about twice those on the pickups, and they weren't holding up well at our average mileage rate of 20,000 miles a year.

Q: Since my employment more than 10 years ago, I have noticed that there does not seem to be a way to track available resources between divisions. By resources, I mean analytical instruments, but it could also apply to other items which one division might not need to buy if it knew another division already had that item.

 A: Equipment resources are tracked at the laboratory in several ways.

Primarily, the Property Department tracks specific equipment, instruments and other items that are purchased and brought into the laboratory.

Three exchange programs are in place to provide opportunities to share and re-use equipment. These programs are:

Argonne Equipment and Material Exchange (AEM-X):  p2.pfs.anl.gov/AEM-X/AEM-X.htm

Surplus Office Supplies (SOSX): p2.pfs.anl.gov/sosx.htm

Pollution Prevention: p2.pfs.anl.gov

Computerized processes allow laboratory employees to post various chemicals, office supplies, equipment and other items on the web. The exchange provides laboratory employees the opportunity to contribute, order and receive various items for the workplace without incurring the cost of the item. These processes also provide laboratory stakeholders an opportunity to support Argonne's pollution prevention initiatives. To find out more about these initiatives, employees can view the Pollution Prevention Home Page.

Thus, scientific equipment, instruments and other items are shared between various departments and divisions throughout the site; sharing arrangements typically occur between groups that have an interest.

In addition, divisional property representatives have access to a property database that can locate equipment someone may be looking for but which may not be listed for exchange.

Concerns and planning associated with suitability for intended application, length of use, contamination control and transfer must be worked out between the individuals agreeing to share equipment.

March 8, 2004

Q: On two occasions while parked at the Advanced Photon Source, I have found unsolicited religious pamphlets attached to my vehicle, as well as many others in the parking lot. Is this type of behavior condoned by the laboratory?

A: No. Laboratory policy provides very specific guidelines for all solicitations on property Argonne owns or leases.

Argonne sponsors several national and community organizations, and these are authorized to solicit contributions and distribute appropriate literature through established procedures.

Unless people are charged with coordinating sponsored activities, they are not permitted to solicit or distribute literature, including religious literature, on laboratory premises during anyone's work time. Persons not employed by Argonne are not permitted to solicit or distribute literature at the lab at any time. Further, literature may not be strewn or discarded on Argonne property.

Any unauthorized solicitation or distribution in your work area should be addressed promptly. Guidance and assistance are available from Human Resources.

Feb. 23, 2004

Q: Would the lab consider operating a shuttle bus between the lab and the nearest Metra station? It would certainly alleviate the driving that many of us have to do. I would guess that such a shuttle would be more useful than the daily University of Chicago route and might even be more economical to the lab.

A: After investigating shuttle options between Argonne and the nearest Metra station with PACE, we determined that PACE Route 715, which concludes its route at the laboratory, provides service in the Central DuPage area including a stop at the Metra Station in Westmont. The current schedule provides service southbound to the laboratory twice in the morning and once northbound in the evening. This schedule is online at www.pacebus.com.

Jan. 12, 2004

Q: At each of the Argonne-East entrances there are signs posted stating "Warning: motorcycles, bicycles, and pedestrians prohibited." These signs are evidently out-of-date and should be removed or updated.

A: The five-inch-by-five-inch warning signs on the gate arms at the entrances are a standard part of the original gate assembly, which was installed at Argonne in the early 1990s. It was intended as a warning to pedestrians and riders of bicycles or other light vehicles that, where the arm was used with a "trip wire" or other weight-sensing automatic opening mechanism triggered by traffic, the mechanism might not detect their presence or movement, would fail to open and they could be hurt if they weren't observant and cautious. Since Argonne-East's gates are now operated manually, the hazard warning no longer applies and has now been painted over.

Q: Is there something that can be done to pressure the Argonne-East service station to clean up its facility? Gasoline pumps with their panels removed and the general rusting nature of the place do not further the image that the lab wants to project to people, including visiting Energy Department sponsors, passing by on their way to the Guest House and the APS Auditorium.

A: We certainly agree that the image of the site is important. Coincidentally, when we received your inquiry, the Plant Facilities and Services Division was in the midst of improvements at the service station. These included replacement of a rusted and deteriorating pump cabinet with stainless steel panels, painting of the concrete fuel islands around the gas pumps, replacement of deteriorated wooden fascia above the front door and painting of the entire fascia, removal of the compromised brick wall enclosing a storage area behind the station, and repair of the leaky roof and re-routing of the down spouts. Funding has been requested to replace all the pumps in FY2004. These improvements have greatly enhanced the appearance of the station and, as funding becomes available, you can expect more improvements.

Nov. 24, 2003

Q: I’ve seen a billboard advertising that Vespa scooters are now sold in Chicago. They’re ubiquitous among young people in Europe and Asia, and I thought, “wouldn’t those be handy for students who are staying in student lodging, so they wouldn’t have to walk everywhere on site.” Maybe there could be some available through Argonne for rent by students?

A: A motorized scooter may be an economical way to travel, but the expense of having a rental program is prohibitive, what with the initial cost of the scooters, on-going maintenance expenses and insurance costs. Plus, there is potential worker’s compensation liability if there’s an injury. Add in licensing and safety issues, and the need for training in their proper use, and all of this precludes Argonne from offering a scooter leasing program.

Nov. 3, 2003

Q: A member of Argonne’s fire department was recently stopped by other employees who told him there was a male person who was wearing a weapon at the service station putting gas in a car. Since he knew the person was an FBI agent, he informed the other employees not to dial 911, which they were going to do. Security, when contacted, said there will be an increase in the number of personnel on site wearing weapons because of increased interest in using Argonne as a base of operations in case of an emergency affecting Chicago. My question or suggestion is this: Would it not be wise to inform Argonne employees of this fact? We are used to seeing uniformed personnel with weapons but not people in street clothing.

A: Argonne has a long-standing tradition of allowing armed local and federal law enforcement on site while in the course of their duties. Since Sept. 11, 2001, there has been an increased presence of armed law enforcement on site, in part due to Argonne serving as host to meetings and exercises for federal, state and local law enforcement. The laboratory, including the Office of Safeguards and Security, is aware of their presence and views this in a positive light.

Oct. 20, 2003

Q: It would be nice if the Argonne-East post office could open at 8 a.m. instead of 10 a.m. If it opened at 8, most people could get things done at the post office before reporting to work instead of having to step away from work.

A: While your suggestion would be a nice convenience, the mailroom does not have the resources to provide an earlier opening of the Branch Post Office. As an alternative, may we suggest the U. S. post office located at 42 Stephen St., Lemont, Ill. They open at 8 a.m. and could assist you in conducting your early morning postal business. For more information on times and locations of the post office nearest you please go to www.usps.com.

Sept. 8, 2003

Q: I think a jogging path around the APS perimeter is needed. These folks who exercise outside are road hazards, as they are often in the street, and as a car approaches from beyond a hill it is impossible to see them until you are right at their footsteps. You can avoid an accident because the speed limit is so low on-site, but the fact that joggers/walkers are in the way and startle me is the point. Also, if they would move, the cars could accelerate to an ergonomically feasible speed (i.e. it is awkward and hurts my foot to go less than 30 mph -- cars aren’t designed for extended driving like that).

A: While a jogging path would reduce the likelihood of a meeting between a car and a jogger or walker, such a decision needs to be based on risk, and the value to Argonne’s site as a whole needs to be balanced with the limited resources available.  There are currently several approaches to reducing the safety risk without the expenditure of significant funds for a jogging path. There are already several paths available around the site that can be used for walking and jogging, and several of the roads, particularly on the south end of the site, are less traveled and thus present less risk to those participating in recreational activities.

Further, there are actions the lab can and has taken to improve visibility of joggers and walkers when using the roads, for example, recommending wearing reflective gear. In addition, an article is published in the Argonne News annually to remind people of ways to be safe when using the roads for recreation and to encourage them to avoid certain high traffic areas.

Finally, the speed limit on the site needs to be maintained.  I understand that the speed limit may seem low; however, it is consistent with the guidelines for speed limits in Illinois when the level of use, construction of the road, and visibility are taken into account. If ergonomic difficulty is an issue in the workplace (including getting to and from the work site), Argonne does have an ergonomic subject matter expert (Carol Giles, EQO, ext. 2-3427) who is available to address specific concerns, and further, the Medical Department can be consulted for advice.

Sept. 2, 2003

Q: It would be great to have access to our vacation and sick-leave balances 24/7. Why not make it available to all employees via the Web using our payroll number?

A: In FY 2004, a new time reporting system will be implemented for all employees. The system will be Web-based and employees will be allowed the 24/7 access you ask about. The system will include vacation and sick balances.

Aug. 25, 2003

Q: I believe it would benefit the laboratory to open the west gate at 6 a.m. instead of the current time of 6:15. I feel it is losing too many man-minutes that add up to a lot of man-hours wasted waiting for the gate to open. Many a day, I have waited in a long line of cars. I am an early bird and travel a long distance to get to the lab, and the two extra miles it would take to enter the main gate adds just that much more mileage I put on my car each year. Can something be done about this matter?

A: The posted, published and contractual scope of work for the protective force subcontractor calls for manning and operating Westgate from 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays. However, when the laboratory assumed responsibility for the protective force contractor 21/2 years ago, we informally adjusted the opening time to approximately 6:15 a.m. to accommodate early arrivers. In response to your request for a 6 a.m. opening of the West Gate, we have determined that this change in the scope of work can be accommodated without modification of the contract and at minimal additional cost to the laboratory. The PROFORCE contractor has adjusted schedules and guidance and implemented a 6 a.m. weekday opening of Westgate. This administrative change is being implemented on a temporary basis subject to review in six months to validate the cost-effectiveness of the change. In six months, if the volume substantiates continuation of this change, the protective force contract and posted hours of Westgate will be formally amended or revised to make this change permanent.

May 19, 2003

Q: Occasionally, employees are encouraged to car-pool in the interests of energy conservation. This would be a more attractive option if it were easier to travel around the Argonne site without a car. Unfortunately, there are no sidewalks from the main gate, APS, or Guest House to the 200 area, and there is no internal shuttle. Further, employees who exercise by running on site must deal with a lot of traffic, which creates an inconvenience for everyone and also a safety hazard. Are there any plans to address these issues?

A: This year, funding has been allocated for a walkway to connect the 400 area to the 200 area. Future plans include paths from the 200 area to North Gate and the 200 area to West Gate and the Forest Preserve. Work will be scheduled as funds become available. In the meantime, since safety is always our number one concern, we remind employees who jog, walk or engage in other outdoor activities to follow the rules of the road and use all due caution when using any streets with vehicular traffic. Regarding taxi or shuttle service, the laboratory at one time offered both on-call and scheduled taxi service. They were discontinued because low usage did not justify the cost. In recent years, we have seen little interest in resuming shuttle service, but we monitor this issue and would take action if circumstances warranted.

May 12, 2003

Q: Why, when they have security guard uniforms, are some of our Security Force allowed to wear military camo uniforms when they are not in the military? I, as a mother of an active military professional, i.e., Green Beret, am offended by this, as I think other people are also. The uniform of the United States military personnel is an earned privilege.

A: We can well appreciate your feelings, and want to reassure you that while we do have members on the Protective Force who have earned the right to wear the uniforms you refer to, the uniforms themselves are not military but rather approved camouflage protective force uniforms.

May 5, 2003

Q: What is the procedure for screening individuals who have recently traveled to China and are returning to work? Are these people required to get a medical clearance? What is being done to protect the health of employees at Argonne?

A: At the present time, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) does not recommend quarantining individuals returning from China. Thus, individuals returning from affected areas who are not sick and who have not been in contact with individuals suffering from SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) may return directly to duty. Individuals from China or other SARS hotspots who have symptoms of the disease should not return to the laboratory. These symptoms include any combination of aching joints, headache, fever of over 100.4 degrees, dry cough, shortness of breath, or other respiratory symptoms. Instead, they should call (630) 252-2800 and ask a staff physician how to proceed.

If someone was unknowingly exposed during the preceding 10 to 12 days, they still may become ill with SARS after they return to work. Such individuals who become ill while on duty should call ext. 2-2800 and ask a staff physician for instructions before leaving their work stations. In line with CDC instructions, the Argonne Medical Department is advising people planning elective or non-essential travel to such SARS hotspots as Beijing, Hong Kong, Shanxi and Guangdong provinces in China, Singapore, Hanoi in Vietnam, and Toronto in Canada to postpone their trips until further notice.

If going to one of these locations is a necessity, talk to a staff physician. At the present time, there is no satisfactory approved treatment for SARS. The medical department will be referring individuals to their own practitioners for personal care. Since there has not been enough time since the outbreak of SARS for medical literature to appear, the best resource for information is the CDC Web site. There are reports that combinations of ribovin and steroids are being used in individuals with progressive SARS, but this is an unproven treatment. The medical department staff will be pleased to work with any individual who has concerns about travel, visitors or questions of personal exposure.

March 17, 2003

Q: What security changes can we expect at Argonne-East if the terror alert level changes to red?

A: Terror alert level red is similar to the Department of Energy’s Security Condition (SECON) level 1, Threat Critical, but is not quite the same. This rough correlation is true of all five SECON levels. A chart of the security action plans that go with each of the SECON levels is online.

The main difference between Homeland Security Alert Advisory level red and SECON-1 is that SECON-1 refers to incidents in the “immediate area where a malevolent or terrorist attack has occurred which may affect the site, or when an attack is initiated on the site ...” Thus, where the Homeland Security level might escalate to red for the nation as a whole, we expect DOE would implement SECON-1 on a site-by-site basis based on the local situation.

At SECON-1, DOE-HQ, Chicago Operations, Argonne Area Office, and Argonne management would jointly activate an Emergency Operations Center, assess the threat to the site and occupants, and implement additional protective measures. These measures could include limiting the presence of personnel on site to critical and essential program and operations staff, reducing all after-hours access and activities, increasing local law enforcement presence on site, gracefully shutting down non-essential and non-critical experiments and research activities, and staggering arrival and departure schedules.

Following the DOE directive, we would implement a full search and inspection of all vehicles, suitcases, briefcases, packages and hand-carried items, without exception. It is likely we would close Westgate and Eastgate with barriers so all site access would be through Northgate.

Again, SECON-1 is called for in the event of a specific local or regional attack that would impact the site and would not necessarily be implemented because of a red alert or advisory.

With this said, note that with the nation recently at orange, security inspected all visitors, guests, and delivery vehicles plus random employee vehicles. If the nation went to red, even without SECON-1, we would anticipate that more employee vehicles would be searched and that we would recommend staggered arrival and departure schedules. In preparation for other actions, we would advise facility and program mangers and supervisory personnel to identify critical and essential personnel and implement their own local patrols, inspections, walk-throughs and protective measures within their facilities.

March 3, 2003

Q: There is plenty of documentation on how a good policy that allows telecommuting can benefit both the employer and employees. A prime example is increased productivity for the employer and increased free time for the employee. Telecommuting also benefits the local community by helping reduce local traffic congestion as well as maintaining the environment. Does Argonne have a telecommuting policy?

A: There are certainly cases, when a mutually beneficial situation exists, in which Argonne employees work at alternative work locations, including their homes. These are set up on a case-by-case basis. If you believe working from home may be of mutual benefit to you and the laboratory, please follow these steps:

1. Discuss the situation with your supervisor. If your supervisor supports a telecommuting arrangement, proceed to Step 2.

2. Obtain an "ANL Work-At-Home/Alternative Work Location Agreement" from Human Resources - Employment and Placement. You and your supervisor should then complete this form together.

3. Obtain division director and associate laboratory director approval signatures on the agreement.

4. Submit the agreement to Human Resources for final approval.

Feb. 17, 2003

Q: What are the responsibilities of the Chief of Staff? Job description?

A: The position of chief of staff was added to the Directorate this past autumn to coordinate its many activities. Jill Morgenthaler was named to the post. She supports Argonne Director Hermann Grunder by monitoring the progress of assignments and making sure everyone has the resources they need. She works with the other members of the Directorate and their staffs to maintain scientific, programmatic, operational and administrative visions, and reports on progress and problems. The chief of staff also handles special assignments on the director’s behalf.

As part of these responsibilities, the chief of staff participates in strategic planning and setting of priorities, transmits plans and recommendations of the Directorate to the laboratory director, advises him about such plans and recommendations and acts as his agent in carrying them out. She sometimes represents him at events, including speaking engagements. Such representation may be with local and community groups, foreign dignitaries, and other VIPs.

Oct. 28, 2002

Q. With the heightened security, site access has been made very inconvenient for an employee's spouse. There are many times when I wish to make a quick stop at the lab during a weekend or a late hour but cannot do so because my wife is with me. I realize that a temporary pass can be obtained, but would like to suggest an alternate, and I believe equally secure, method.

If an employee wishes to enter the site accompanied by his/her spouse and if both have a current driver's license and if both licenses have the same home address and if both photos match the persons involved, and if one of the persons has an Argonne photo ID badge, then a one-day pass could be provided by the gate guard.

This would seem to limit access to those who would be guaranteed to be granted a pass if the visitor's reception center were open.

A. For frequent (weekly or more often) site access by a spouse, the best and easiest solution is for an employee to request a long-term pass for the spouse from a division director (laminated to distinguish it from the regular gate pass). As long as they have the pass and their photo ID, the spouse will be allowed site access with or without the employee as well as on weekends and after hours. If the spouse forgets the pass, and the Visitor Center is closed, the officer on duty may issue a temporary pass to the spouse upon the request of the badged employee, providing the spouse is a U.S. citizen and provides positive identification.

For occasional (once every month or so) site access the regular gate pass request can be faxed or e-mailed by any badged employee and picked up by the spouse at the VRC with photo identification and signed receipt of the pass.

Finally, per our existing procedures for the Protective Force, if a badged employee arrives after hours and has his or her spouse or other visitors with them, the officer on duty may issue a temporary pass to the spouse or visitors upon the request of the employee, providing the spouse or visitors are U.S. citizens and possess positive identification. This has been in place since last year.

Aug. 12, 2002

Q: Because of the on-going road construction on I-55 during the off hours, in which travel is down to one lane or the (exits to) Lemont and Cass avenues have been closed off, those of us who work during those "off-hours" have to find alternate routes to get to the lab.

Could it be possible to open the Westgate entrance between the hours of, say, 11:30 p.m. and 12:30 a.m. to accommodate those of us who live south and west of the laboratory? It can help to cut down the travel time to work.

A: As in previous years, commuters throughout the Chicago metro area, at all times of the day, are experiencing pain and frustration about finding alternate routes and allowing for the extra time of traffic delays due to road construction and renovation. Many individuals from the south and west of the laboratory have indicated that even at 7 a.m., what was normally a 20- or 30-minute commute is now requiring that they start an hour earlier to get to work before 8 a.m.

While we sympathize with your situation, the suggestion of posting security officers at Westgate to permit late night access cannot be accommodated under heightened security requirements and our obligations to protect the site, the site occupants, and the resources of DOE and the laboratory. Even under normal circumstances, the protective force is fully engaged with increased patrols during off hours and reducing and restricting off-hours site access and activities through a single point.

To open up additional entry points during the middle of the night or to divert security personnel from patrols and site surveillance activities would not be prudent stewardship of DOE and laboratory resources.

July 15, 2002

Q: A poster on display in 201 showing plans for the RIA indicates it will extend to site property that the northwest corner of Outer Circle Road currently passes through. Will the road be closed, or rerouted?

A: RIA is still in the early design stage. Plans include rerouting Meridian Road to follow a more graceful and direct route into Outer Circle Road. The rerouting of Outer Circle around the back of RIA has not been decided.

June 17, 2002

Q: In regards to HR Policy & Procedures #2250.1 & 2250.2, is it possible when two technicians who are brothers and work in the same division -- same section -- same work area, under the same manager, that one of the brothers can be promoted to a supervisory (chief) position over the other?

A: A chief technician does not have hire, fire or disciplinary responsibilities over their technicians; hire/fire/discipline is done by either the section group manager in cooperation with or by the division director. A chief technician does not have a say as to pay because technicians' pay is negotiated as part of the collective bargaining agreement. A chief technician primarily assigns work, trains employees, makes sure that the work is performed satisfactorily, schedules the work and makes sure that deadlines are met; they approve annual leave and timekeeping records.

So to answer your question, yes, it is possible for the division to promote one brother over the other. The division could still be in compliance with HR Policy #2250 because most of the supervisory responsibilities are performed at a higher managerial level than the chief technician position.

(Editor's note: HR advises that the policy cited in the question says that whenever one relative is selected (original hire, promotion, transfer), to supervise another relative or work side-by-side in same section, then the division director has to provide written documentation to the HR director explaining why there would be no problem with the employees supervised by one over the other or working together. If an issue remains or there is an appeal, then the decision could go up to the chief operations officer or even to the laboratory director.)

June 3, 2002

Q: Just a few weeks ago little blue, yellow and orange flags bloomed all over the lawns at the 200 end of the lab. Now they're mostly gone. We're just wondering what they were for, and whether their mission was accomplished … or did the deer eat them?

A: The large variety of multicolored flags that were seen surrounding and leading away from Building 221 were all part of the planning and design project for the proposed Illinois Science Center, which would be constructed in conjunction with the proposed Rare Isotope Accelerator project. The multicolored flags showed the location of underground utilities in these areas and were removed when the planning and design people had completed their tasks.

April 22, 2002

Q: Current site access requires spouses to go through the same process as anyone else who needs access to the site. Is it possible to provide "permanent" access for spouses so one does not have to arrange in advance site access each time for banking or dining privileges? If not every spouse requires this type of access can it be made available on a case by case basis?

A: Prior to the events of Sept. 11, 2001, the means for spouses to access the Argonne-East site were satisfied via the windshield sticker program. While the windshield sticker program is currently being held in abeyance, we hope it may be resumed at some point in the future. You may however, make prior arrangements for such visits for a "modified/extended" period of time through the Argonne Information Center.

Editor's note: The Argonne Information Center advises that passes good for up to five days can be arranged by an employee for U.S. citizens. Passes good for longer periods (up to a year) or permitting off-hour access (weekends and weekdays between 7 p.m. and 6:30 a.m.) require approval through a division director's office.