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Regents consider Los Alamos bid despite continued opposition: Expression of interest required by July 12
by Clint Johnson July 1, 2004

The UT System is continuing to explore the possibility of operating the Los Alamos National Laboratory and will formally announce its interest in acquiring control of the lab by July 12, UT System Vice Chancellor for External Relations Randa Safady said Wednesday.

The Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration said Monday that interested parties should submit an "expression of interest" to the department by July 12, and the UT System intends to comply, Safady said. The official bidding process will take place in the fall.

But the System's interest in the weapons-research facility, which was first announced at a Board of Regents' meeting on Feb. 4, has met with opposition from students and faculty.

Tuesday's announcement is probably another step toward a likely bid, said Forrest Wilder, a member of UT Watch, which has led opposition to the acquisition.

"They continue to walk a fine line, saying they haven't finalized any decisions," Wilder said. "But they are proceeding as if they have already decided."

The NNSA has said it will wait until fall to release an official request for bids on control of the lab, which has been run by the University of California System since its creation in 1943. Safady said the UT System Board of Regents will not decide if it should bid until it sees the NNSA's request.

In the past five months, opposition to the University's possible bid has included a protest at UT System headquarters and the drafting of a student government resolution calling for more discussion about the subject.

Wilder said his group is now working with students of the University of California at Berkeley to protest involvement with nuclear labs.

"We don't want to put responsibility for it on either school's back," he said. "We'd like to see all universities wash their hands of Los Alamos."

In a June 2 UT System Board of Regents meeting, System Chancellor Mark Yudof said he is listening to student concerns while the System explores a possible competitive bid.

Originally published in the Daily Texan.

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