Argonne National Laboratory

Announcement | Argonne Tandem Linac Accelerator System

Current ATLAS User Facility Access

Effective May 3, 2023: ATLAS users required to provide identification compliant with the REAL ID Act

Starting Wednesday, May 3, 2023, all Argonne National Laboratory site visitors who are 18 years old or older, including users of the Argonne Tandem Linac Accelerator System (ATLAS), must show identification compliant with the REAL ID Act to enter all Argonne sites.

This updated identification policy puts Argonne in compliance with the REAL ID Act, passed by the United States Congress in 2005, which establishes minimum security standards for people accessing federal facilities.

Please note that, although the Department of Homeland Security extended the deadline for REAL ID compliance for boarding an aircraft to May 7, 2025, Argonne will require updated identification for users to access all sites on May 3, 2023.

Users will need to present identification at the Argonne Information Center during business hours (6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.) or to a Protective Force officer at the North Gate entrance after hours. Users only need to present a REAL ID or acceptable documentation one time to be verified. Argonne will log each person’s verification and keep it on record.

Details on compliant documents can be found here. Please contact the ATLAS User Office at atlas-​admin@​anl.​gov if you have questions.

Effective August 24, 2022: COVID-19 Protocols revised per CDC guidance

Argonne has received new guidance from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) in response to streamlined recommendations from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This new guidance emphasizes personal choice and personal responsibility.

Argonne has updated its COVID-19 safety plan to align with this guidance. The laboratory and the Argonne Tandem Linac Accelerator System (ATLAS) are revising COVID restrictions and minimizing our need to adjust safety protocols when the CDC changes COVID-19 community transmission levels for DuPage County (the county in Illinois where Argonne is located).

The requirements that shift based on community levels are indicated below. All changes are effective Wednesday, August 24, 2022. 

Tied to COVID-19 Community Levels: 

  • Face Coverings: High-quality face coverings from our approved options will be optional on site when the COVID-19 Community Level is low (green) or medium (yellow); they will be required when it is high (orange). 
  • Fans and Heaters: When the COVID-19 Community Level is high (orange), restrictions on placement and the direction of the airflow in shared spaces apply. 

Not tied to COVID-19 Community Levels: 

  • Access Requirements for Visitors: Vendors, facility users, and other guests are no longer required to provide proof of vaccination or negative COVID-19 test results to enter an Argonne site. 
  • Contact Tracing: We will only perform complete contact tracing at the discretion of Argonne Health and Employee Wellness if there are signs of a cluster of cases on site. 
  • Close Contacts: People who are exposed to the coronavirus through a close contact will not need to quarantine. They will need to wear a face covering for 10 days and complete COVID-19 testing five days after exposure. 
  • Isolation of Infectious People: Users should adhere to the latest CDC guidance for COVID-19 quarantine and isolation periods.  
  • Meeting Maximums: There are no limits to the number of people who may attend a meeting in person. However, events should be planned so that attendees can be encouraged to maintain distance from others and avoid crowding. 
  • Proximity Devices: We are discontinuing the wearable proximity device program.
  • Social Distancing: Social distancing will be optional on site, no matter the COVID-19 Community Level. 
  • Testing Programs: We are discontinuing our screening program.

REMEMBER:  Users should not come to Argonne or ATLAS if they are not feeling well or exhibit symptoms consistent with COVID-19, regardless of vaccination status. If you become ill while at Argonne, stay away from others and immediately call the COVID-19 Question Line at 630-252-2555 for guidance on isolation and restriction requirements.