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Waste Management Operations at Argonne-East recently began shipping mixed waste off site for treatment and disposal at facilities approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the states of Utah and Washington.
Mixed waste contains both radioactive materials and chemically hazardous materials. Until recently, it has been difficult to dispose of these wastes because the EPA had not yet approved regulatory compliant procedures.
"We've been collecting, treating and storing mixed wastes on site for some years," said Cindy Rock (PFS-WMO), manager of Argonne-East waste management operations. "Now we have started moving them out."
The largest volume of mixed waste being shipped consists mainly of slightly radioactive debris containing lead and cadmium, plus small amounts of other radioactive debris contaminated with barium and chromium.
Some 2,400 cubic feet have been shipped to Envirocare, Inc., a Utah company that uses EPA-approved technologies to encase and immobilize waste before disposing of it.
"About 85 percent of this waste came from the decontamination and decommissioning of Chicago Pile 5, where it was used in reactor shielding and components," Rock said. "PFS-WMO received it last year and were able to begin shipping it off site four or five months later."
Chicago Pile 5 was a small reactor that operated in Building 330 from 1954 to 1979, providing a source of neutrons for materials research.
Rock said her organization plans to ship another 1,000 cubic feet of this waste next year and another 1,000 cubic feet in 2002.
A second type of mixed waste, also being shipped to Envirocare, consists of slightly radioactive PCBs.
"These are essentially sludges from the 1994 remediation and upgrade of the wastewater treatment plant and the 1995 cleanout of retention tanks in buildings all over Argonne-East," Rock said.
A newly revised EPA ruling late last year cleared the way to dispose of certain mixed wastes classified as "remediation" wastes. "Since our sludge was generated as part of an environmental cleanup, it qualified under the revised EPA guidelines," said Devin Hodge, PFS-WMO's mixed-waste specialist.
In the last two weeks, PFS-WMO has shipped 240 drums containing a total of 1,200 cubic feet of sludge. "We have a total of about 110 drums left, which we hope to ship before the end of December," said Rock.
A third type of mixed waste -- radioactive oils and solvents mixed with hazardous metals _ is being shipped to the Allied Technology Group (ATG), Richland, Wash., for EPA-certified treatment and disposal.
"ATG only recently began accepting shipments," Rock said. "We've sent them six drums of legacy wastes that we were required to ship this year under our agreement with DOE. Some of these wastes date back more than 10 years."
"The bulk of the lab's legacy PCB mixed waste is gone now or will be soon," she said. "The lab continually generates small amounts of this waste as part of ongoing research and operations. Now for the first time, we have a process in place to ship them as they are generated."
Argonne's Reactor Analysis and Reactor Engineering divisions have been combined into a single organization.
Dave Hill will direct the new Reactor Analysis and Engineering Division; Ed Fujita, Hussein Khalil, and Dave Weber have been named associate directors.
Dave Wade, who led the Reactor Analysis Division for the past 10 years, will join the Engineering Research Associate Laboratory Director's office as a senior technical advisor.
"Dave deserves our recognition and thanks for the outstanding job he has done in maintaining the highest quality reactor analysis capabilities and providing forward-looking vision and essential leadership to the division," said Argonne Interim Director Yoon Chang.
Dean Pedersen, who led the engineering, facility safety, and experimental activities of Reactor Engineering, will remain with the new division as senior technical advisor.
"As we approach the start of the new century, there is ample evidence that a nuclear renaissance is near," Chang said, with dramatic improvements in performance and economics of current nuclear power plants, successful plant license extensions, and sudden increases in oil, natural gas, and electricity prices. Support for reestablishing long-term nuclear energy R&D programs has been growing in the Department of Energy and in Congress.
"It is now an appropriate time to refocus our nuclear energy R&D capabilities to provide an integrated approach to our mission and to deal effectively with future opportunities," Chang said.
The Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (INEEL) has a toll-free phone number where Argonne-West employees can find out about changes in bus routes or schedules due to weather: (877) 424-4635. INEEL Bus Operations will record announcements of weather-related changes on this number as soon as changes are made.
The number was established last year because it was found that relying on radio and television broadcasts was inadequate.
At Argonne-East, changes in site operations due to inclement weather will be recorded on the Info-Line -- (630) 252-INFO -- and on the laboratory's home page.
Due to a delay in the manufacturing of flu vaccine, flu shots will not be scheduled in the Medical Department during October.
Flu vaccine production has slowed because manufacturers are having difficulty cultivating the A Panama (H3N2) strain, a new type of virus in the vaccine's mix.
There is no definite delivery date or guarantee of the amount of vaccine that the Argonne Medical Department will eventually receive. The elderly and persons with chronic health problems should consult with their personal physicians about flu vaccination.
The Medical Department will keep employees updated as more information becomes available.
for prospective students and their parents
The University of Chicago will hold an open house for prospective students and their parents Monday, Nov. 6, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. A special information session for prospective students and their parents affiliated with Argonne will be held at the open house from 10:30 a.m. to 11:20 a.m. at Ida Noyes Hall, 1212 East 59th St. (At the corner of 59th St. and University Ave.).
Students and their families attending the Open House will have an opportunity to meet current students, tour campus, speak with faculty and coaches and eat in a dining hall. Students may also visit classes.
Those planning to attend should call the Division of Educational Programs (DEP) Division Office at ext. 2-4114 by Thursday, Nov. 2, with name and the number of persons attending.
For details on the information session, call Sally Ganga, the university's associate director of admissions, at (773) 702-8661. For more information on the open house, or visiting the campus at another time, see the Web page at http://college. uchicago.edu/College/Visiting/visiting.html.
Applications taken
Applications are now being accepted for the University of Chicago/Argonne Scholarship Plan. The program gives the sons and daughters of full-time laboratory employees a chance to compete for full-tuition scholarships to the university.
Children of regular, full-time Argonne employees are eligible. Applicants must be accepted for freshman-level admission to the University of Chicago and must be among the most qualified applicants from Argonne families, as judged by the university.
Information booklets and applications for the scholarship are available from the Division of Educational Programs in Argonne-East's Building 223, Room M125 or by calling Carol Reynolds (DEP) at ext. 2-4114.
The scholarship applications must be validated by DEP to be accepted by the university and should be received no later than Dec. 1.
The Argonne Chapter of the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP) will host a fall fashion show Thursday, Nov. 9, at noon in Argonne-East's Building 362 Auditorium.
Contributions raised at "An Afternoon of Elegance: Fashions for All Occasions" will be applied toward two student scholarships in 2001. This year the chapter awarded two $500 scholarships to student aids working at Argonne-East.
Tickets are $3 and will go on sale in the Building 213 Cafeteria Oct. 25 and 27, Nov. 1, 3 and 8 from 11:30 to 1:30 p.m. Tickets can also be purchased from any chapter member.
The last lunchtime barbecue at the Argonne Guest House will be held Wednesday, Oct. 18. In its place, a theme buffet will be held each Wednesday from Oct. 25 through Nov. 22.
The first theme buffet will be Italian and will include such items as roasted garlic gnocchi in a three-cheese cream, stuffed shells with pomodoro sauce and red pepper penne with Italian sausage, tomato, and spinach in a light broth. There will be three different salads and assorted desserts. The cost is $7.50.
The guest house restaurant will still feature its regular menu during the buffet.
Weekend service
The Guest House Restaurant is now open on weekends. A limited menu will be available on Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 8 p.m.
Visit the Argonnet for a link to the Guest House Restaurant's daily menu.
Staff and non-staff retirement plan interest rates for the fourth quarter are:
| Vendor | Rate | Contributions From | Earned through |
| TIAA Traditional | 8.00% | 10/01/00 - 12/31/00 | 02/28/01 |
| TIAA Supplemental | 7.50% | 10/01/00 - 12/31/00 | 02/28/01 |
| Lincoln National (Old Account) | 3.50% | 10/01/00- 12/31/00 | 12/31/00 |
| Lincoln National (No Load) | 5.55% | 10/01/00 - 12/31/00 | 12/31/00 |
| Prudential Fixed Interest** | 6.30% | 07/01/00 - 06/30/01 | 06/30/01 |
| Prudential Guaranteed | 6.10% | 10/01/00 - 12/31/00 | 12/31/01 |
(** Only Available to Non-Staff participants)
The laboratory's retirement vendors will send representatives to Argonne-East during November to meet individually with employees and answer questions about retirement plans and assets. To schedule an appointment, call the number listed. Prudential appointments are for one-half hour each.
| Vendor | Day | For Appointments, call: |
| Prudential | Wednesday, Nov. 1, 8, 15 and 22 | Cheryl, (847) 619-3519 |
| Fidelity | Tuesday, Nov. 7 and 14 | Appointment Desk, (800) 642-7131 |
| TIAA-CREF | Thursday, Nov. 16 and Friday, Nov. 17 | (800) 842-2005 |
Argonne's Women in Science and Technology (WIST) Steering Committee has an opening for one representative from the laboratory's staff of technical employees.
The group's charter includes recommending a WIST program initiator to lead the laboratory's efforts to recruit, retain and promote women. The committee also provides guidance during the initiator's two-year term and evaluates the WIST program's effectiveness.
Interested regular, full-time employees should provide a curriculum vitae and a cover memo indicating any prior experience with WIST activities and providing a vision statement for wanting to become a committee member. This material should be sent to committee chairperson Richard Valentin (OTD) by Friday, Oct. 20. Members about to rotate off the committee and former members may apply.
Argonne will begin blocking offsite access to network services that rely on clear text passwords Monday, Oct. 16.
These services are commonly known as telnet, rlogin, ftp, pop3, imap4, rexec, and rsh. The passwords used to initiate these services can captured by malicious users and used to illegally enter Argonne computers.
More details and alternatives to these services are online, or contact a Computer Protection Program representative.
Service Awards for September include:
Garry T. Hicks (AOD).
Bonnie K. Baudino (ET), Virgil D. Dimick (NT), Lottie D. Jones, Jr. (PFS).
Maria Contos (CMT), Roy K. Crawford (IPNS), Margaret A. Gemmell (BTC), Donald G. Graczyk (CMT), David A. Haugen (EST), Jan P. Hessler (CHM), John W. Holland (RE), Craig C. Huber (DIS), Julie D. Jastrow (ER), Charles M. Macal (DIS), Kathryn S. Macal (IPD), William B. Smith (PFS), Emmer G. Thompson (ESH), Robert M. Vasko (PFS), Randall E. Winans (CHM), Alan M. Wolsky (ES).
Jerry L. Brink (OD), Mark L. Davis (PFS), Marcos H. Grimsditch (MSD), John R. Hull (ET), Edward G. Kurtz (OD), Edwin D. Pentecost (EA), Jerry L. Pruett (OD), Frank Stodolsky (ES), Anant Ray D. Vyas (ES).
Thomas A. Coleman (ECT).
Stephan Baker (PFS), Jeffrey L. Binder (RE), John E. Carlsen (PFS), Joseph E. Donelan (ESH), Susan Ercoli (ESH), Phillip J. Finck (TD), John N. Galayda (APS), Todd A. Hayden (ECT), Larry M. Jensen (ED), Ronald R. Krol (ECT), Wah-Keat Lee (UPD), David B. Lively (OD), Pramila Malhotra (ET), Pedro A. Montano (MSD), Daniel Neff (RPS), Donald L. Nielsen (RPS), Noralee D. Petersen (ED), Julie A. Stech (TD), Brian J. Tieman (XFD), John A. Veil (EA), Valerii Vinokour (MSD), Gary R. Weidner (IPD), Rongguang Zhang (BIO).
Yong-Chul Chae (ASD), Alexandro C. Contreras (PFS), Linda B. Davenport (DEP), Katherine C. Harkay (ASD), Mark P. Jensen (CHM), Zhenhua Jiang (EA), Lawrence P. Kurek, Sr. (IPNS), Patria P. Leath (EA), Thomas J. LeCompte (HEP), Ronald Phillips (HR), Debra A. Pounds (OCF), Ralph L. Powell (RPS), Michael A. Power (NT), Robert A. Sedivy (ER), Michael Q. Wang (ES).
