Moderate
Resource Center for energy workers opens today in Española
A resource center to help energy workers or their families file for compensation from the federal government under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act is scheduled to open today in Española. The center, sponsored jointly by the U.S. Departments of Labor and Energy, is one of 10 opening throughout the country this month.
"Today is a major step forward in America's commitment to the well being of our nuclear industry workers and their families," said Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao. "It is a tragedy that more was not done to care for these injured workers sooner. But I'm proud that this resource center is now opening so we can start processing claims as quickly as possible. These workers are American heroes, and they deserve to be treated as such."
The new law, which goes into effect July 31, provides $150,000 lump-sum compensation and related medical expenses to workers who became seriously ill from exposure to radiation, beryllium or silica while working in the nuclear weapons industry for the Department of Energy, including its contractors and subcontractors.
Compensation also will be available to some survivors and to uranium employees who are eligible for benefits under Section Five of the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act.
People trained to help workers compile medical and employment records will staff the center, located at 412 Paseo De Oñate, Suite D. Workers also can get help at Labor Department district offices in Seattle, Wash., Denver, Colo., Cleveland, Ohio and Jacksonville, Fla.
Since early June, joint Labor-Energy Department teams have been hosting town hall meetings throughout the country to explain the new law and its eligibility requirements to nuclear weapons employees and their families.
More information about the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Act is available at www.dol.gov online, or by calling toll-free 1-866-888-3322.
City location and opening dates of all the Resource Centers:
Richland, Washington -- Thursday, July 26
Idaho Falls, Idaho -- Friday, July 20
Portsmouth, Ohio -- Monday, July 16
Anchorage, Alaska -- Friday, July 20
Rocky Flats, Colorado -- Monday, July 23
Española, N.M. -- Tuesday, July 24
North Augusta, Georgia -- Thursday, July 26
Oak Ridge, Tennessee -- Friday, July 27
Already Open:
Paducah, Ky.:
Barkely Center
125 Memorial Drive
Las Vegas, Nev.:
Flamingo Executive Park Suite W-156
1050 East Flamingo Road
Class answers questions many new employees
to Laboratory may have
Who do I call to set up my computer? Where do I purchase software I need to do my new job? What's a token card and where do I get one? These are all questions new employees to the Laboratory often ask.
In an effort to make the answers to these and other frequently asked questions available to new workers, Bill Robertson of Customer Service (IM-2) and Amy Meilander of Network Engineering (CCN-5) have created a free seminar targeted for all new Lab workers. Called Computer BASIC Training at LANL, the class is free to all new hires, whether they be University of California employees or subcontract personnel. The first seminar is scheduled for Aug. 7. BASIC stands for Building a Secure Information Community.
Through a web-based curriculum facilitated by a classroom instructor, the seminar is divided into five sections: Beginnings, Acceptable Use, Security, Informational and Computing. Each section provides Web sites to frequently asked questions, from how to get a token card to security refreshers to the Research Library (STB-RL) and informational links at the Lab.
"This is the information that new employees need to get their job done here at the Lab," said Robertson. "We were all new employees here at one time and we've all experienced some frustration in finding answers to questions we've had, such as getting an electronic mail account set up," he said. "This seminar will hopefully answer some of the big and not-so-big mysteries about working at Los Alamos."
The class is run via a Web site that is facilitated by a classroom instructor, in this case, Robertson. The hands-on seminar is computer-based and, although targeted and recommended for new employees at the Lab, it is open to all Lab workers, including students. "Anyone who is employed at [the Lab] who uses a computer is invited to attend this web-based seminar," Robertson added.
He added that at some point in the future, the seminar could become part of the new general employee orientation training Lab workers must attend when hired on.
To register for this free class, go to the Training and Development (HR-6) Web site at http://www.lanl.gov/labview/training/training.html online and choose "Computer," "LANL Computing Fundamentals," "Computer B.A.S.I.C. Training at LANL."
Or contact Audra Tucker at audrah@lanl.gov by electronic mail to sign up for the next available class.
--Steve Sandoval
PTLA survey
"Protection Technology Los Alamos (PTLA) has started its annual customer satisfaction survey. Through Aug. 17, Laboratory workers can complete the survey, in the form of a small orange Customer Comment Card, which has been distributed throughout the Lab, said Darryl Overbay of PTLA.
"Our protective force supervisors and other PTLA employees will be providing cards in hopes that many will take the minute necessary to fill it out," said Overbay. There are several wooden lock boxes located around various Laboratory security areas where the cards can be returned.
The cards also can mailed to PTLA at Mail Stop G724. The survey also can be completed online by contacting Overbay at 5-6362, or writing to Overbay at doverbay@lanl.gov by electronic mail.
After the survey is completed, PTLA will have an outside agency analyze the returns, and then use the data to develop ways to improve its operations and customer service skills.
Road construction project near Los Alamos
Airport begins July 30
Beginning next week, Los Alamos County and the state Highway and Transportation Department are repaving a portion of NM 502 near the airport that may affect traffic for Laboratory workers commuting to work.
The work involves cold milling - removing the existing asphalt roadway - and repaving it from roughly the NM 502-Canyon Road intersection, east for about 2.3 miles to the Los Alamos County line, said Rey Gonzales of the Los Alamos County Public Works Department. Work is scheduled to begin next Monday, July 30 and be completed by late October, weather permitting.
The $1.7 million project also includes widening of shoulders on both sides of the road, safety, erosion control, some utility relocation and landscaping improvements, said Gonzales.
Albuquerque Underground is the general contractor for the project. During the project, the contractor will work between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and possibly on weekends, said Gonzales. At times traffic will be narrowed to one lane. Signs, flashing messages boards and flag persons will be in place to alert motorists and direct vehicles through the construction area. Access to the airport shouldn't be affected, said Gonzales.
Gonzales said the contractor has sent out notices to residences and businesses in the construction area regarding the planned road work.
For more information, contact Gonzales at 662-8122.
--Steve Sandoval
Morning pick up
Kate Denning, 16, of Hays, Kan., steps aboard a van Saturday
morning in front of the Bradbury Science Museum. Denning was among
12 students who took advantage of the free shuttle service to
and from Santa Fe last Saturday and Sunday. The shuttle will continue
to transport students and other Laboratory workers to Santa Fe
on weekends until mid-August. For more information, see the July
19 Daily Newsbulletin. Photo by Michael Carlson, Public
Affairs
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