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Subsurface study on tap
in wake of lake water switch

Argonne now uses more than 500,000 gallons of Lake Michigan water a day for drinking and laboratory operations. But for more than 45 years, the laboratory drew its water from wells on site.

"Since we're not drawing on the water table any more, we expect it to rise," said Ron Coley, director of Argonne's Environmental Management Operations. "We think it's responsible to monitor the water table recovery for a while."

While they were in use, the wells created a "cone of depression" that tended to pull groundwater toward it, rather than letting the groundwater flow in natural directions, Coley said. "All wells create this effect to some degree, but we want to see what effect this might have on the flow of groundwater under our site."

Coley noted that a number of nearby communities have also made the switch to Lake Michigan water in the last few years, and those actions could affect the water table throughout southern DuPage County.

The subsurface geology at Argonne's Illinois site has not been thoroughly studied before. Still, a good deal of preliminary work has been done, and it is providing a solid foundation for the team of environmental scientists that began work in May to finish the task.

The team is using Argonne's own QuickSite(tm) process, a new technique that dramatically cuts the time and costs needed to identify any environmental problems at potentially contaminated sites. QuickSite(tm) is the standard procedure recommended for this kind of research by the American Society for Testing and Materials.

The water table recovery and the subsurface geological study are two parts of Argonne's current effort to consolidate all its environmental plans and activities and to ensure the conscientious environmental stewardship of its sites in Illinois and Idaho. Coley is leading the study along with Tony Dvorak, director of Argonne's Environmental Assessment Division.

Argonne plans to review all the laboratory's environment-related activities at both sites since the early 1950s, when the laboratory first occupied the sites.

"The environmental problems at Argonne have always been relatively small and have never posed any threat to our workers or neighbors," said Coley. "Argonne's policy has always been to follow the best professional practices and to meet all legal and regulatory requirements in handling and disposing of the chemical and radioactive wastes that our research produces.

"But compared to the fifties and sixties, we are a lot more sensitive to the environment today, and we know more about it," he said. "In the light of changes in the knowledge base, we believe it is responsible to take a thorough look at where we stand today. We don't want any surprises, and we know our neighbors don't either."

Other parts of Argonne's environmental management assurance plan include reviews of historical records and reports, environmental audits of major buildings, and interviews with former employees and retirees.

A team of researchers is interviewing former workers, examining historical blueprints, and tracing piping and plumbing changes over time in three buildings in Illinois and one at Argonne-West. Longer-range plans may call for environmental audits of major buildings at both sites.

"It's unlikely, but still possible, that this effort might uncover some potential trouble spots that we don't already know about," Coley said. Examples might include demolished buildings or former waste-disposal sites for which historical records are incomplete or unavailable. "If we find new potential trouble spots, we will develop plans to address them.

"We're doing this because it's the right thing to do," Coley said, "and because in the long run, if we fail to move aggressively on environmental issues, it will only wind up taking longer, costing more money and forfeiting the trust of our neighbors."

ESH schedule
moves to Web

This information is available electronically on the Environment, Safety and Health Division's home page on the World Wide Web. The web site is updated at least a month before classes are scheduled to begin.

Training Management System representatives and ESH coordinators are encouraged to print and post this information monthly for the benefit of personnel who do not have access to Argonne's Home Page.

Spectacular storm is reminder
that severe weather season isn't over

Despite its ominous appearance, the storm -- which came exactly one year after the devastating rainstorms of 1996 -- caused very little damage at the site. The National Weather Service issued no tornado warnings as the storm approached, and no confirmed tornado sightings were reported during the storm.

Argonne's emergency management employees watched the weather closely through the day, said Emergency Management Officer Mary Goodkind. In threatening weather, Argonne monitors a special DuPage County emergency radio network that links area communities. The Fire Department monitors the Illinois State Police radio frequencies. Live weather radar is available both at the fire department and at Building 201.

If there are reports of damage close by, or there seems to be an imminent threat, the fire department activates warning sirens and issues a warning over the public address system.

"The fire department has a good track record in distinguishing between a good old-fashioned thunderstorm and a storm that is a threat to life," Goodkind said.

National Weather Service tornado watches and warnings are immediately announced on the public address system with the warning tone. Outdoor sirens are activated when a warning is issued.

What watches, warnings mean

* A tornado watch means conditions are right for tornadoes to form. An alert tone is sounded on the site-wide address system, followed by an announcement.

* A tornado warning means a twister has been sighted in the area or detected by radar. Outdoor sirens will sound and a sitewide announcement will direct employees to head immediately for designated tornado shelters areas.

ECT offers classes in
computer software

Contact a Training Management System (TMS) representative for registration. Classes are limited to eight participants.

* Introduction to Windows `95 (ECT300) -- This class is designed to introduce students to Microsoft Windows `95. Prerequisite is Windows 3.1 or Windows 3.11. The class will be held Tuesday, August 12, from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m, in Argonne-East's Building 221, Room A142. Class size is limited to eight. Cost is $125.

* Introduction to Word Version 7.0 (ECT301) -- This class is for those just beginning to use word processors, new users of Word 7.0, or current users who wish to refresh their knowledge of basic techniques. Prerequisites: Introduction to Windows `95. The class will be held Tuesday, August 12, from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in Argonne-East's Building 221, Room A142. Class size is limited to eight. Cost is $125.

* Introduction to Excel Version 7.0 (ECT302) -- This class is designed for those just beginning to use spreadsheet programs, new users of Excel 7.0, or current users of Excel who wish to refresh their knowledge of basic Excel techniques. Prerequisite: Introduction to Windows `95. The class will be held on Wednesday, August 13, from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in Argonne-East's Building 221, Room A142. Class size is limited to eight. Cost is $125.

* Introduction to PowerPoint Version 7.0 (ECT303) -- This class covers the basic techniques necessary to create presentations using PowerPoint 7.0. Prerequisite: Introduction to Windows `95. The class will be held on Wednesday, August 13, from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in Argonne-East's Building 221, Room A142. Class size is limited to eight. Cost is $125.

* Introduction to Access Version 7.0 (ECT304) -- Students will learn to use the Windows-based database management system by creating and using cue cards, datasheets, tables, and records. Prerequisite: Introduction to Windows `95. The class will be held Thursday, August 14, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in Building 221, Room A142. Cost is $175.

EAD Web site is a winner

The award showcases premier environmentally related sites. EAD was one of 10 organizations to received the award for the month of June.

Criteria used in selecting sites for the "GreenU" award include relevance to environmental research and education, presentation and ease of use.

EAD's web site recently was reorganized and expanded to include summaries of 47 recent or ongoing EAD projects; a publications section devoted to on-line browsing and downloading of recent EAD publications; and staff information. Additional project summaries, documents and an on-line search capability will be added this summer.

The site is located at:

http://www.ead.anl.gov/~web/newead/index.html.

Science center
needs a name

Suggestions should be sent to Evie Fagan (OPA) in Building 201, along with the employee's name and extension. Deadline for submissions is Thursday, July 31.

The facility is now open to scheduled, public tour groups. In the fall, it will open to the broader public, and will become the site for issuing passes to Argonne-East visitors, a function temporarily being performed at trailers Cass Ave.

Classes in quality management,
effective meetings offered

* "Facilitating Effective Meetings" (HR 636) will be held Wednesday, July 30, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. in Argonne-East's Building 212, Room A157 (The date and location has changed from what was printed in HR's summer flyer). The class covers a six-step process and other techniques designed to help build consensus, handle conflict and keep meetings on target.

* "Foundations of Quality Management" (HR 635) will be held Tuesday, Aug. 5, from 8:30 a.m. to noon in Argonne-East's Building 212, Room A157. Participants will learn to use customer perspective, continuous improvement, team building and metrics to build a more responsive, customer-oriented work environment.

To enroll, contact a Training Managment System representative. For more information, call John Hyzer (HR) at ext. 2-3503.

Lotus Notes to be discussed

Lotus Notes is a client-server computer program that allows users to create custom applications, send and receive messages and access multiple databases of documents, facts, figures, records, memos and ideas.

For more information, contact Barry Finkel (ECT-CTT) at ext. 2-7277.

`Object-oriented'
programming
is topic of talk

Objects are sections of computer code that perform operations on data. The talk, "Why Object-Oriented Design Is Important," at 10:30 a.m. in Argonne-East's Building 221, Room A216.

Richter teaches an object-oriented analysis and design at Fermilab and other locations. He will discuss the importance of learning object-oriented design skills and illustrate some of the benefits of practicing good object-oriented design.

The seminar will be hosted by the Electronics and Computing Technologies Division.

Retirees

Shoei-Sheng Chen (ET) retired July 1 with 28 years of service.

Fritz Coester (PHY) retired July 1 with 35 years of service.

Donald R. Colby (ECT-CS) retired June 30 with 40 years of service.

Joseph W. Falout (PHY) retired July 1 with 20 years of service.

Barbara A. Rogowski (IPD-MED) retired July 4 with 17 years of service.

Norman F. Sather (ES) retired June 30 with 23 years of service.

William T. Sha (ET) retired July 1 with 29 years of service.

Richard A. Smith (RPS) retired June 5 with 12 years of service.

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