News

More than 120 Pantex employees recently devoted their Friday to the Pantex Day of Volunteering to do something for the greater good of the Texas Panhandle. Of those 120+ employee volunteers, 24 employees stepped up as a team captain and initiated a call to action for co-workers, family and friends to join their teams.

Volunteers cleared and revamped flower beds at The Bridge Children’s Advocacy Center.

Projects ranged from building wheelchair ramps and duck bunks (housing for ducks in a local food bank’s garden) to cooking for families in need, packing care boxes for our military overseas, caring for animals, gardening, painting and even cleaning up city parks.

“There are several organizations that are in need in the Amarillo area,” said Rebecca Heinen, team captain for a project to clean up hiking trails at Wildcat Bluff Nature Center. “Often, these agencies don’t need much other than the manpower to complete a task.”

Visit the Pantex Facebook page to view more photos and watch a video from the Pantex Day of Volunteering.

Lightning mapping array system predicts electrical discharges

AMARILLO, Texas – Given the prevalence of lightning in the Texas Panhandle and the criticality of the work performed at the Pantex Plant, Consolidated Nuclear Security, LLC recently installed a new lightning mapping array (LMA) system designed to detect pre-strike electrical activity. The eight new sensors around the Plant will improve safety and stability in critical operational areas, in addition to providing redundancy for the current system.

“We are looking forward to seeing the benefits that this system may provide through both improved safety and operations at Pantex,” added NNSA Production Office Electrical System Engineer Scott Dolezal.

Pantex plant shift superintendents use the current Lightning Location and Protection System to issue lightning protective action warnings to employees. With employee safety being a top priority, these protective actions sometimes can pause weather-dependent operations until the lighting warnings are lifted. The new LMA sensors detect small electrical discharges within a cloud and generate a map showing frequency and location. They also dissect a storm to determine its height and intensity.

“Our current system only detects cloud-to-ground strikes,” said David Hattz, with the Pantex Electromagnetics Group. “The LMA system detects the first inner-cloud strikes allowing us to notify our employees up to an hour sooner.”

In addition to the sensor installations, Pantex engineers are developing a software package to study lightning and atmospheric data. Texas Tech University is partnering with the Plant by sharing the data from its 12 LMA sensors. Data collected from the Pantex and Texas Tech systems will allow Pantex to measure the amount of operations time impacted by lighting warnings.

“The research element of this project is an important study of how well lightning can be predicted using the LMA system sensors, combined with other existing Pantex sensors and meteorological data. The software we are developing will generate metrics to show how much forewarning we received prior to a strike, and how much time we were under lightning protective actions that never resulted in a strike,” said Hattz.

Consolidated Nuclear Security, LLC (CNS) operates the Pantex Plant, located in Amarillo, Texas, and the Y-12 National Security Complex, located in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, under a single contract for the U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration. Pantex and Y-12 are key facilities in the U.S. Nuclear Security Enterprise, and CNS performs its work with a focus on the performance excellence and the imperatives of safety, security, zero defects and delivery as promised.

For more information on each site, visit www.pantex.energy.gov or www.y12.doe.gov. Follow Pantex on Facebook, X or LinkedIn. Follow Y-12 on Facebook, X, and LinkedIn.

Pantex and Y-12 received numerous Defense Programs Awards of Excellence. The award program highlights those who have made a significant difference in improving any phase of the nuclear weapons life-cycle process. The Extrudable Pressing Team was one award winner.

Some jobs at CNS clearly define how they help protect global security. With organization names like High Explosives Manufacturing, High Explosives Facility Management, Projects, and Tooling & Tester Design, it’s pretty evident. Recently, this specialized team from Pantex solved issues surrounding the need to manufacture extrudable explosive components for ongoing Joint Test Assembly activities and future Life Extension Program deliverables and was recognized with a Defense Programs Award.

Team member Lennon Mings said, “The scope and the purpose of the project are in direct support of aiding the front line of global security, so that motivation initiated the project. In fact, the project plays a pivotal role in ensuring global security.”

Production of war reserve extrudable explosive components had not been performed at Pantex for decades. Much of the tooling was unreliable after many years of limited use, and the designated facility was not up to operational standards.

Mings said, “I think the greatest accomplishment of the team was the design and implementation of a piece of equipment that is instrumental in the success of Pantex and future work. The project required the synergy of multiple disciplines (project management, explosive engineers, tooling engineers, facility management and engineering technicians). As a result, based on demonstrated work, we have developed a process that is capable of producing products better than ever before.”

Project manager Tim Harris said, “Our team initiated action to upgrade the facility, install a new extruder, develop new tooling, modernize technical operating procedures and support documents, train technicians to perform operations, update process hazards analysis review and update and qualify the overall process through readiness activities.”

Mings said, “Tim ensured the team had the right members; he was the motor that moved the project along.”

“This project was a major highlight in my career at Pantex,” Harris said. “The team made the project a success.”

OAK RIDGE, Tenn. – Consolidated Nuclear Security, LLC purchased more than $210 million in goods and services from small businesses during the first nine months of fiscal year 2016, including more than $149 million at the Y-12 National Security Complex and $61 million at the Pantex Plant. Small business contracting at Y-12 includes more than $10 million in small business obligations for work on the Uranium Processing Facility project, which is managed by Bechtel National, Inc., through a subcontract with CNS.

In recognition of the significant role small businesses play in the national economy—as well as the economies in East Tennessee and the Texas Panhandle—CNS uses small businesses in a variety of roles, from technical and administrative support to staff augmentation and construction support and strives to provide the maximum possible contracting opportunities to small businesses in a host of categories recognized by the Small Business Administration. Those categories include: 8(a), woman-owned, Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone), veteran-owned, service disabled veteran-owned small businesses, small and small disadvantaged businesses.

“Small businesses represent the backbone of our economy and the backbone of our success at CNS,” CNS Deputy Enterprise Manager Michelle Reichert said. “They’re important to getting our mission done and for helping us be the best stewards of taxpayer dollars we can be.”

CNS will host its annual small business awards ceremonies at Pantex and Y-12 in the fall. These awards honor local small businesses based on their commitment to CNS’ core values of integrity, trust, respect, teamwork and excellence, as well its four imperatives—safety, security, zero defects and delivering as promised.

Consolidated Nuclear Security, LLC (CNS) operates the Pantex Plant, located in Amarillo, Texas, and the Y-12 National Security Complex, located in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, under a single contract for the U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration. Pantex and Y-12 are key facilities in the U.S. Nuclear Security Enterprise, and CNS performs its work with a focus on the performance excellence and the imperatives of safety, security, zero defects and delivery as promised.

For more information on each site, visit www.pantex.energy.gov or www.y12.doe.gov. Follow Pantex on Facebook, X or LinkedIn. Follow Y-12 on Facebook, X, and LinkedIn.

CONTACT
Ellen Boatner
Public Affairs
Office (865) 241-4937
boatnerea@y12.doe.gov

Funds distributed though Amarillo Area Foundation

AMARILLO- Charitable organizations from across the Texas Panhandle are invited to apply for grants from the Pantex Community Investment Fund established by Consolidated Nuclear Security, LLC (CNS), managing and operating contractor of the Pantex Plant.

CNS established the fund in January through the Amarillo Area Foundation, as part of its commitment to Amarillo and surrounding communities. In April, CNS awarded grants totaling more than $170,000 to 19 local nonprofits.

A Pantex Community Investment Advisory Committee comprised of CNS employees will entertain proposals from nonprofit and charitable institutions throughout the 26 northernmost counties in the Texas Panhandle (individuals and non-charitable organizations are not eligible). Grant amounts will range from $2,500 to $10,000. The application process will be competitive. Organizations who fit the eligibility requirements and whose work is in line with the priorities are encouraged to apply. Only one application per organization will be accepted.

The priorities for funding are:

• Basic Needs (Food, Clothing, and Shelter)
• Children, Youth, and Family
• Community Development
• Education
• Health and Wellness

The advisory committee will give priority to proposals from organizations located and operating in the 12 contiguous counties surrounding the Pantex Plant, which includes Armstrong, Carson, Deaf Smith, Donley, Gray, Hall, Hutchinson, Moore, Oldham, Potter, Randall and Swisher.

Applications are available online at aaf.spectrumportal.net and are due August 15, 2016, by noon. See www.amarilloareafoundation.org/application-2016 for instructions on how to register in the Spectrum portal. If you have any questions about eligibility or the grant process, contact Kathie Grant, Grants Administrator, at 806.376.4521 or kathie@aaf-hf.org. If you have any questions about priorities, contact Jessica Tudyk, Grants Manager, at 806.376.4521 or jessica@aaf-hf.org.

Consolidated Nuclear Security, LLC (CNS) operates the Pantex Plant, located in Amarillo, Texas, and the Y-12 National Security Complex, located in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, under a single contract for the U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration. Pantex and Y-12 are key facilities in the U.S. Nuclear Security Enterprise, and CNS performs its work with a focus on the performance excellence and the imperatives of safety, security, zero defects and delivery as promised.

For more information on each site, visit www.pantex.energy.gov or www.y12.doe.gov. Follow Pantex on Facebook, X or LinkedIn. Follow Y-12 on Facebook, X, and LinkedIn.

CONTACT
Steve Myers
Public Affairs
Office (806) 573.0490
Stephen.Myers@pantex.doe.gov

Pantex and Y‑12 received numerous 2014 Defense Programs Awards of Excellence. The award program highlights employees who have made a significant difference in improving any phase of the nuclear weapons life-cycle process. The recent awards ceremonies at each site honored programs from the 2014 fiscal year.

We have all done it as a child — trying to guess what is in a wrapped present. You might have picked it up to see how much it weighed or shook it to see if you could figure it out. Now, imagine trying to do that but not being able to really touch the package. A group of employees in the Non‑Destructive Evaluation Operations department was asked to perform a similar task when Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory wanted them to X‑ray a part of the B83 program to see how it was holding up. This required the team to X‑ray the B83 component while it was still in its container.

The B83 Sealed Insert Radiography team.

“Normally, we can take parts out and position them so that we are able to get the best view and ensure we are seeing the part needed,” said Aaron Buxbaum, Pantex Production section manager. “In this case, for various reasons, we were not able to take it out of its storage container.”

The component from the B83 program had already been sealed in a container, and taking it out would be a timely and costly process. Rather than unsealing the containers, the B83 sealed insert team worked around that roadblock and found a way to successfully X‑ray the component, without disturbing it inside the container. Before starting the process of X‑raying, engineering instructions had to be written and flex training had to be taught to the technicians involved.

“Our technicians did an outstanding job on this project, and, thanks to them, we were able to see what we wanted to see,” said Buxbaum.

There were several items to be X-rayed, and the team was able to fulfill the request and provide Lawrence Livermore with the necessary data.

“We were able to X‑ray all of the items that were requested,” said Bobby Hutchison, Production section manager. “And not only were we able to complete the assignment, but we were able to do so without disturbing the part’s existing condition and lessened the amount of radiation exposure.”

Not only were they successful, but the team was able to implement a new cost‑saving technique that is available to use on other programs if ever needed.

Our nation’s capital recently played host to the country’s future science and technology leaders during the U.S. Department of Energy’s 26th National Science Bowl®. The 116 regional winning teams and their coaches, hailing from the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, assembled at the National 4-H Youth Conference Center for an action-packed five days of science activities, sightseeing and competition.

Pantex’s Darla Fish greets an Ascension Academy student as teams check in for the National Science Bowl® at the National 4-H Youth Conference Center in Maryland.

Three of the teams — Amarillo High School and Ascension Academy (middle school) from Texas and Cedar Springs Home School (high school) from Tennessee — won regional competitions sponsored by Consolidated Nuclear Security, LLC.

CNS employees Darla Fish and Allison Roberts, coordinators of the Pantex Regional Science Bowls, joined the hundreds of other volunteers to make the event a success. “It’s so rewarding to our local youth participating in such a well run math and science event,” said Fish.

343,000 square foot facility to be constructed near the Pantex Plant

AMARILLO, Texas – Consolidated Nuclear Security, LLC (CNS) received approval today from the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) to move forward with pursuing a lease for a facility that will transform the skyline of the Pantex Plant. The new Pantex Administrative Support Complex (ASC), to be built just south of the Pantex Plant, will be a 343,000 square foot, state-of-the-art facility providing office space for up to 1,100 federal and contractor employees. The facility will be developed by Lawler-Wood, LLC.

The Pantex Plant is the nation's only nuclear weapons assembly and disassembly facility and is a key element in the U.S. nuclear security enterprise. Pantex is located on the high plains of the Texas Panhandle, 17 miles east of Amarillo, Texas.

“This milestone underscores our commitment to address the Pantex Plant’s aging infrastructure challenges, and to invest in the site to position it for the future,” said CNS Deputy Enterprise Manager Michelle Reichert. “The ASC will enhance our ability to attract and retain highly skilled employees to safely perform our national security mission. It will also allow us to be more focused on other critical infrastructure needs at the Plant.”

The building will provide an administrative and support facility for the nuclear security mission at Pantex and relocate employees from numerous aging facilities that are costly to operate and do not meet modern standards. Along with office space for nearly one-third of Pantex employees, the facility will be equipped with a conference center, cafeteria, visitor's center, and medical and employee health and fitness facilities.

Today’s decision is the culmination of more than 16 months of planning by CNS and the NNSA. CNS will now begin working with Lawler-Wood, LLC to finalize the project details. Construction is anticipated to begin in August 2016. The new facility will be near the intersection of Farm to Market (FM) Road 2373 and Highway 60.

Consolidated Nuclear Security, LLC (CNS) operates the Pantex Plant, located in Amarillo, Texas, and the Y-12 National Security Complex, located in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, under a single contract for the U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration. Pantex and Y-12 are key facilities in the U.S. Nuclear Security Enterprise, and CNS performs its work with a focus on the performance excellence and the imperatives of safety, security, zero defects and delivery as promised.

For more information on each site, visit www.pantex.energy.gov or www.y12.doe.gov. Follow Pantex on Facebook, X or LinkedIn. Follow Y-12 on Facebook, X, and LinkedIn.

CONTACT:

Jason Bohne
Senior Director
Communications & Public Affairs
Office (865) 241-1400
Mobile (865) 337-4077
jason.bohne@cns.doe.gov

Pantex and Y 12 received numerous 2014 Defense Programs Awards of Excellence. The award program highlights those who have made a significant difference in improving any phase of the nuclear weapons life-cycle process. The recent awards ceremonies at each site honored programs from the 2014 fiscal year. The Pantex Tester Design team was recognized at the ceremony.

The Pantex Tester Design team received a DP Award for designing, fabricating and implementing the PT4176 digital ohmmeter on the W88 program and will expand implementation to the rest of the active programs.

From left: Erich Grebel, Dustin Allen and Paul Brock accept the Defense Programs Award for their work on the Pantex Tester Design.

Team member Erich Grebel said, “For me, our team’s greatest accomplishment was the ability to coordinate and implement design specifications from three laboratories, the Department of Defense and the United Kingdom. At times the design requirements were conflicting or competing, but implementation of this tester to meet the needs of all of the interested parties, while meeting core design requirements, was an incredible engineering task.”

The PT4176 replaces a 35 year old, unsupportable tester that is the most widely used tester at Pantex. Design of the new tester was a challenge because of the wide array of requirements for this single ohmmeter. The team was able to address these challenges and the result was a safe, reliable and accurate tester. The PT4176 has been qualified for use on explosive components and nuclear weapons, and offers significant benefits to Pantex, the design agencies and DoD.

Working on this team helped Grebel see his role in the Front Line of Global Security. He said, “Category 1 testers are a critical component of certifying the nuclear stockpile. These testers provide quantitative data that is used in determining function, monitor degradation and perform surveillance on nuclear weapons. The PT4176 will be the most widely used tester for our nation’s nuclear deterrent.”

Other team members included Dustin Allen, Donald Collins, Todd Wester and Kenneth Larkan.

The Bataan Memorial March is held annually at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico to honor the American and Filipino troops imprisoned by the Japanese and forced to walk through the Philippine jungles on the Bataan peninsula.

“It’s a 26.2 mile march through the hills and sand around the missile range,” said Juan Dominguez, a Pantex guard. “This was my third time to participate and it’s not an easy task.”

Participants honored World War II troops during the 26.2-mile Bataan Memorial March.

Dominguez got with some other guards in his group, Matt Ramos, Robert Coffman, and Chris Houts, about six months before the annual march, and they started planning their trip through the high mountain desert. Ramos, Coffman, and Houts had never participated before.

“Any chance I have to support or show support for fellow veterans, I try to do so,” said Chris Houts. “It was also a chance to push myself and help build strong friendships with my SPO [Security Police Officer] co-workers.”

Participants march with backpacks filled with canned goods and before they start the trek the bags are weighed. “You can go light or heavy, and the bags are weighed and sealed before you take off, said Dominguez. “Whatever you leave with you carry the entire time and then at the end, the food is donated to the local food banks.”

Not only were the men honoring the individuals that march in the Bataan Death March, but they were able to strengthen their bond and make friends along the way. “The camaraderie with co-workers and participating with other marchers that have a common interest to honor and support our veterans was a huge motivation for me,” said Coffman.

High mountain deserts have enchanting views, but they also have cold mornings, warm days, and plenty of sand, and sand isn’t your friend when you’re walking for miles. Houts had a blister that covered his heel by mile 12. After about 30 minutes of care at one of the medic stations, the group was back on their way. “It wasn’t easy and it hurt like hell, but I wasn’t about to quit,” Houts said.

Coffman added that the march took you up and down the mountain and over different terrain. “You would descend down the mountain on asphalt, then back to the desert terrain and deep sand; you were constantly having to stop and dump sand out of your shoes.”

Despite the rough terrain, the men finished and vow to do it again next year. “My feet hurt for almost a month and my muscles were so sore I could hardly stand for a few days, said Houts. “With all that, it was still an amazing experience and I look forward to the opportunity to test myself again next year.”