PNNL

In a December press release, the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) announced the safe and secure removal of 50 sample containers of plutonium-239 and americium-241 from the Lovelace Biomedical Research Institute in Albuquerque, New Mexico, to Los Alamos National Laboratory. In preparation for that effort, several Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) experts advised NNSA on the packaging for the sample containers. The PNNL team and NNSA reviewed the safety analysis report for packaging (SARP) to make sure the package complied with applicable regulatory requirements and there was no undue risk to the public, worker safety and health, or the environment.

Following the announcement, Ahmad Al-Daouk, NNSA Deputy Associate Administrator for the Office of Enterprise Stewardship, NA-53 wrote to PNNL, “...you stepped in and accepted the challenge this project presented without hesitation, and have managed every challenge the team came across during CY 2020.  Your commitment, strength and resilience had never wavered.” 

“The effort was intense, with a very compressed schedule, and it was made even more challenging by the restrictions of working during a pandemic,” said program manager Diana Love.

The PNNL team included Harold Adkins, Nate Barrett, James Fort, Laurie Hay, Brian Koeppel, Diana Love, Lucas Mackey, Peter Sakalaukus, and Anthony Savino. NNSA has recognized members of this team for their expertise on similar efforts in the past.