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November
7, 2001
Secretary
of Energy Abraham Announces Pacific Northwest
National Laboratory Contract Extension
Announces $8.4 Million in Environmental Management
Research Grants
RICHLAND, WASH. - On a visit to Energy Department
facilities in the state of Washington today, U.S.
Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham announced
that the department will move forward withplans
to extend its contract with the Battelle Memorial
Institute to manage and operate the Pacific Northwest
National Laboratory (PNNL) for an additional five
years.
"Battelle has done an extraordinary job operating
PNNL over the years," Secretary Abraham said.
"The Department of Energy and Battelle will
be negotiating the details over the next several
months, but we look forward to a continued partnership
that will lead to further scientific advances
benefiting our country."
Secretary Abraham authorized the department's
Richland Operations Office to begin negotiations
with Battelle. DOE decided to extend the contract
with Battelle after evaluating several factors,
including past performance and potential impacts
from a change in the contractor. Battelle has
received "Outstanding" ratings for the
past three years from the department. The current
contract expires in September 2002. The decision
to extend the contract is subject to congressional
approval.
Announces $8.4 Million for Environmental Management
Research
In addition to the planned contract extension
for PNNL, Abraham said that the department's Environmental
Management Science Program has awarded the lab
$8.4 million in grant funding for research to
support the department's Environmental Management
cleanup program.
The grants, to fund research initiatives to develop
new approaches to dealing with the disposition
of high level waste and the deactivation and decontamination
of facilities, are part of 45 research grants
totaling $39 million.
PNNL is a major multi-program laboratory that
conducts basic and applied research to solve problems
in the environmental, energy, health and national
security areas. The lab employs about 3,500 people
and has an estimated annual budget of about $540
million. In addition to its main Richland complex,
PNNL operates a marine sciences laboratory in
Sequim, Wash. It was created in 1965 when the
government's research laboratory at DOE's Hanford
Site was separated from Hanford operations. The
lab's original mission was focused on nuclear
technology and the environmental and health effects
of radiation. PNNL gradually evolved into a national
laboratory with a diversified, multi-program mission.
Battelle of Columbus, Ohio, has managed the lab
for the department since its inception in 1965.
Media Contact:
Number: R-01-189
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