Quote:
Originally Posted by Sawtooth
Has the INEEL been downsizing or upsizing lately?
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Sawtooth:
I'm not sure any two people will give you the identical answer. So check a few times as you may get more than one answer and I don't know that any are wrong. I think it depends on employees working directy for BAE vs. spinoffs. And, if employees work for INL, which of the three divisions does he/she work, all factor in how a person answers your question. I think it is fair to say some programs at INL are moving ahead at record speed. While other programs, such as the clean up, may be not the major story about INL currently.
Ultimately, my answer is, I believe the number of people working on INL-designated missions and contracts has increased; however, their employment may not be directly through INL/BAE. If I recall correctly, one of the objectives of the most recently awarded contract was to be able to partner with local companies to further the science, further most of the work and encourage spin-offs locally. I don't know the ratio of how much work is being done by BAE employees directy vs. locals that are sub-contracting or providing additional services.
When Battelle (BEA) took the reigns, there were several changes from the previous contract. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and military branches, specifically the Air Force, have contracted for certain work. DHS - is in the second funding round wth INL regarding Cyberspace Safety, given work-to-date. You probably just read that INL's Explosives Detection System (IEDS) will be installed at Wright-Patterson AFB for field testing. Requests are already coming from Iraq, and elsewhere, of how rapidly can this invention be manufactured and sent to the buyer.
BEA was also asked to submit a plan of how to work with regional universities- INRA (
http://www.inra.org) and also how to create and work with the National University Consortium (including MIT, Ohio State and others:
http://www.inl.gov/partnerships/index.shtml ) for excellence in nucear education. So in a way I've never seen before, INL was given the mission to educate via a unique partnership.
The Center for Advanced Energy Studies (CAES) will be completed by 2008. What I posted earlier was the first public notice I've seen for contractors to review plans etc. for the first building to house the various programs of CAES. CAES will be at University Place.
I would refer you to INL's site about CAES at:
www.caesenergy.org. The goal is to be an international training facility, that is built and fully functional by 2008. Please see the reference page, as some times those who haven't followed this latest contract very closely believe we who have and are aware what Battelle contracted to do, are stretching the commitments when we mention what will change. We are accussed of having ideas and thinking far beyond what we should, given that it is only in Idaho Falls.
And with that much info, I'd better stop. Maybe this time some people on this forum will read before they take their shots not realizing how much they don't know.
To answer to your question, in a different way, I think it depends on which of the 3 major divsions at INL (National Security, Nuclear Energy or Science and Technology) whether people work "at the site" or are working more and more in town or perhaps for a sub-contractor, of how many employees there are. I think there are more employees working daily to support these missions than ever before, but as I initially said, I don't think they are all INL/BAE employees. And, by 2008, I think International education, let alone U.S. education at CAES will create an area of growth in Idaho Falls that many don't know how to predict currently.
Maybe that is when the buildings will finally start expanding upward, because I think the 4-5 new buildings will have consumed most of the space INL has at University Place.