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First "performance-based"
DOE assessment
gives Argonne high marks

Outstanding is the highest rating on the five-place scale, followed by excellent, good, marginal and unsatisfactory.

The assessment was required under the Department's first "performance-based" contract for the operation of a national lab, signed last in 1995 by DOE and the University of Chicago. The rating covered Argonne's performance from Aug. 1, 1995, through Sept. 30, 1996. The contract included objective standards by which the laboratory's scientific, technical, operation and managerial performance are assessed.

The science and technology and operations ratings were provided by the DOE headquarters program offices with input from the Chicago Operations Office, including the Argonne Group.

In science and technology, the laboratory was rated on its performance in meeting goals that included:

* Providing new insights in the physical and life sciences

* Providing the scientific competencies that contribute to successful DOE and national programs

* Constructing and operating leading-edge experiments and user facilities on schedule, within budget and in a safe and environmentally sound manner

* Promoting university, industry and other access to laboratory research capabilities through use of its user facilities

* Adding to the body of scientific and engineering knowledge, and thus, potentially contributing to the U.S. economy through the development and application of new and improved technologies

All these criteria received ratings of "excellent" or "outstanding" in the laboratory's major program areas.

Operations narrowly missed receiving the highest rating. Fifteen areas were assessed, ranging from affirmative action and diversity to work for others. In most cases, DOE's rating agreed with the results of self-assessements by the operations areas.

ANL-W couple help rescue
driver trapped by avalanche

Driving back to Idaho Falls after a weekend of skiing at Jackson Hole, the benedicts suddenly found themselves inside a "white cloud" just outside the Jackson city limits.

Bob hit the brakes just in time to prevent his pickup truck from being engulfed by the snow. The slide pushed their truck to the edge of the road, buried its front end and cracked the windshield.

The Benedicts were unharmed by the avalanche, which Bob estimated to be 30-40 yards wide. But not everyone on the fairly busy highway was so lucky.

"The car in front of us was knocked completely off the road," he said.

The other vehicle, a full-size pickup truck, was thrown down a 30-foot embankment and ended up on its side. Except for the windshield, all its windows were blown out by the force of the snow.

One of the truck's two occupants managed to free himself almost immediately. He helped the Benedicts dig down through the snow which half-filled the cabin to clear away the snow from the driver's face.

But the snow had packed in so tightly around him they couldn't free him from the vehicle.

Emergency vehicles arrived quickly, and the truck had to be cut open to extract the driver. The Benedicts heard later that he'd suffered only cuts and bruises.

"A herd of deer or elk probably set the avalanche off," Bob said. "I caught it out of the corner of my eye. We were fortunate that we managed to stop before the main force hit us."

Cooling technique is a cold winner

Malik's solution not only kept Building 200's experimental equipment from overheating, but would save the laboratory about $50,000 per year. It also won an award from a Chicago energy engineering association and will be tested at many other buildings on site.

Working closely with Bert Ercoli (CHM, retired) Malik took advantage of the new site-wide "Central Energy Management and Control System," which gives fine control over a building's heating and cooling systems. By resetting the controls, he was able to use the cooling water system to preheat the ventilation air entering the building's air-handling equipment.

The incoming outside air cooled the water, and was warmed enough so the steam supply to the building's heating system could be dialed down dramatically.

The process works whenever the outside air temperature is below about 65 degrees -- generally from November to April. In summer, the chiller system will be used.

"It's a win-win situation," Malik said. "We're not only cooling the process water, we're preheating the warm air supply and not throwing the recovered heat out the window."

Malik said the method also lowers maintenance costs by reducing wear and tear on the chiller system.

"There are two ways to experience the full impact of this new method of operation,"said Jack Logue, associate divison director. "The first is to notice how quiet the equipment room is when the 400-ton chiller isn't running. The second is by seeing a smaller electric bill for the lab."

The technique was recently named "Project of the Year" by the Chicago Chapter of the Association of Energy Engineers.

Some batteries can't be mailed

Some batteries, such as the carbon or alkaline flashlight batteies can be put in the regular trash.

Others, such as rechargeable batteries and those used in calculators and cameras, contain cadmium and are considered hazardous waste. Lead-acid batteries, such as those used in cars and trucks, are also considered hazardous waste.

To properly dispose of hazardous waste, a chemical waste disposal requisition form (EMO-197) must be is submitted to Waste Management in Building 306. Once the form is received, EMO will pick up the battery and ship it off site for proper disposal or recycling.

For more information, call John Herman (EMO) at 2-6348.

Workshop aims at improving
collaborative research

The purpose of the EPSCoR program is to bring funding for science and engineering research at participating states' academic institutions up to nationally competitive levels.

The program is restricted to states that receive lower amounts of federal research-and-development funding. The program currently operates in 18 states and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

The workshop will be sponsored by the seven federal agencies that participate in EPSCoR: the U.S. Department of Defense; the U.S. Department of Agriculture; the U.S. Department of Energy; the National Aeronautics and Space Administration; National Institutes of Health; the National Science Foundation; and the Environmental Protection Agency.

For FY 1997, these agencies received approximately $80 million to support research and infrastructure development activities in the EPSCoR states.

University researchers in the EPSCoR states are reviewing Argonne materials to identify research projects that match their research interests and expertise. The university researchers will submit a list of these projects to Argonne through the Division of Educational Programs (DEP).

DEP will contact principal investigators of these Argonne projects to arrange meetings during the workshop to discuss these mutual interests and possible collaborations.

Workshop coordinator John Mateja of DOE's office of Basic Energy Sciences also encourages researchers with mutual interests to meet and get acquainted before the workshop.

Mateja also said that, while researchers should look at existing resources to support collaborative research, the development of new proposals seeking new support is also important.

"This kind of grant-writing activity over the past nine months between Argonne staff and EPSCoR faculty from Maine has resulted in more than $1.5 million new dollars to support their joint research efforts," Mateja said.

"In an era of tighter research budgets," said Argonne Director Dean Eastman, "it is becoming more important to form research partnerships that maximize the use and effectiveness of every research dollar."

A variety of other activities will take place during the workshop including reviews of research activities at other federally supported facilities in the Midwest like NASA's Lewis Research Center in Ohio and Ames Laboratory in Iowa.

A round table discussion also will be held to bring management from states, universities, industries and laboratories together to discuss strategies to strengthen and build partnerships to help move technology to the market place.

A Federal Agency Fair also will be held during the workshop. Technical program managers from various agencies will be available to discuss funding opportunities. Tours of various Argonne divisions also will be conducted.

For more information about workshop arrangements at Argonne, contact Deon Ettinger (DEP) at ettinger@dep.anl.gov or 2-4272.

For more information on other aspects of the workshop, contact event coordinators John Mateja at john.mateja@mailgw.er.doe.gov or (301) 903-0464, or Donna Prokop at donna.prokop@mailgw.er.doe.gov or (301) 903-0511.

EMO rolls out home page on the Internet

Taste of China
coming to cafeteria

The lion dance, a symbolic tradition that helps chase away evil spirits, will be held at 11: 30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.

From noon to 1 p.m., there will be demonstrations of paper cutting, paper folding (origami), calligraphy and preparation of Jiaozi, a traditional Chinese dumpling.

On Tuesday, Feb. 25, a panel of Argonne and DOE employees will discuss the traditions of Chinese New Year in various regions of Asia. The discussion will begin at noon in the Building 203 Auditorium.

Retirement Vendor Visits Site

Appointments are required. Call1-800-842-2005. Meetings will be held in Building 201, Room 174.

HR is working to arrange meetings with Prudential and Fidelity representatives. Details will be announced in a future Argonne News.

Summer students
await assignments

Argonne has a long history of offering research opportunities for students. Surveys of past participants show they gain considerable experience and make significant contributions to research programs during their appointments.

Division offices have more information, a list of applicants sorted by discipline and detailed applications submitted by students who are interested in working in many research fields. Some divisions have elected to receive the applications in electronic form.

For more information on the program, please contact Lisa Reed (DEP) at ext. 2-3366 or send e-mail to lreed@dep.anl.gov).

Speaker to present talk
on returning to college

The speaker will be Kate Watland, director of the Graham School of Management's Center for Management Development at Saint Xavier University. Watland will discuss common concerns shared by adults considering college degrees and offer advice, strategies, and insight on how to attain educational goals.

The seminar is sponsored by Human Resources and the Plant Facilities and Services Division.

For more information, contact Karen Kroczek (ESH) at ext. 2-8764 or John Hyzer (HR) at ext. 2-3503.

Class to help employees
improve presentations

The course covers techniques to help participants look, sound and feel more confident, organized and effective, and provides a system to organize information.

The class will be held Wednesday and Thursday, Feb. 26 and 27. Call ext. 2-8786 for more information or to register.

HR gauges interest
in English, CPS classes

Call Betty Iwan (HR) at ext. 2-3410 to express interest or for more information.

* English as a second language classes are designed to improve the English speaking skills of employees. Employees of similar cultural backgrounds are grouped in this highly interactive approach to teaching English language skills. The course will meet twice a week during the lunch hour for about 1-1/2 hours per session.

* A series of courses, designed to prepare secretaries to attain certification as a Certified Professional Secretary, would meet once a week for six weeks during the lunch hour for approximately 1-1/2 hours per session. Courses cover such topics as office procedures, accounting review, economics review, business law, behavioral sciences and business, and office technology.

Malhotra, Wilewski
recognized for work
in streamlining orders

Malhotra and Wilewski were members of the process improvement team of the Office of Field Management Life Cycle Asset Management. The team combined 13 DOE facilities management orders into one, eliminating hundreds of pages of text. The team also shifted the orders' emphasis from requirements to performance.

This effort was part of Vice President Al Gore's National Performance Review Initiative, aimed at improving goverment performance and reducing its cost.

Deadline Information

Story ideas, comments and suggestions are welcome. The Argonne News office is in Building 201, room 2Q-02 (OPA-201). The fax number is ext. 2-5274. Send E-mail to Argonne News editor Dave Jacque.

Seminar listings: Send by inter-office mail to Evie Fagan, Building 201, room 2U-09 (OPA-201). Fax to ext. 2-5274, or send by E-mail.

Classified ads: Please limit ads to 25 words. Send by inter-office mail to Evelyn Fagan, Building 201, room 2U-09 (OPA-201). A drop box is located at the Argonne News office.

Classified Ads sent by electronic mail cannot be accepted!

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