nuclear-news

The University of California, Texas A&M  made full presentations while the University of Texas System gave a short statement at the end of the meeting during the public comment portion.

All three systems submitted bids to the National Nuclear Security Administration before the administration’s deadline.
UC Vice President for National Laboratories Kim Budil faced some tough questions before the coalition from Coalition Chairman and Santa Fe Mayor Javier Gonzales.

The University of California has been a partner in the lab’s operation since it’s inception in 1943.

“Clearly there were a lot of mistakes made of the last couple of years in Los Alamos that led to the shut down of WIPP (Waste Isolation Pilot Plant) and the threat that ultimately posed to the community for those mistakes,” Gonzales said. “I’m interested in how the University of California during that time and what levels of assurance as communities we would get, if you were selected, that it wouldn’t happen again.”

Gonzales also wanted to know, after all the years the university has been a part of the management of the laboratory, why there are “still families struggling, there’s still big challenges in poverty and opioid addiction … all of these other things that you shouldn’t have to solve on your own as a contractor, but quite honestly donated money to a foundation and feeling that might be the end of an obligation is not necessarily what I would use as a good corporate citizen.”

Gonzales also wanted to know why the coalition often had to go alone to Washington, D.C. to ask for money every year without any help from UC……. http://www.lamonitor.com/content/uc-grilled-over-lanl-safety-issues