Learn more :: Article Archives :: Los Alamos Must Take On 'Other Missions' Los Alamos must take on 'Other missions' It's a weighty list: Prevent the spread of materials used to build nuclear weapons; prevent terrorist attacks on the United States and our allies; overcome problems associated with hydrogen and nuclear-energy sources; secure a stable, sustainable climate while maintaining economic growth. "I do believe Los Alamos can continue to push the frontiers of science," the New Mexico Democrat said to employees in the lab auditorium. In talking with employees and later the media, Bingaman discussed his vision for the lab, drew comparisons between his outlook and that of Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry, and expressed a hope that the University of California will keeps the lab's management contract. The lab was born to build the world's first atomic bomb and now maintains aging weapons. But it has other strengths, such as LANL scientists who helped secure nuclear weapons and materials when the Soviet Union collapsed, Bingaman noted. "There are other missions that I believe should and will play a larger and larger role in the work of the lab," he said. A new U.S. Department of Energy initiative aims to secure reactor fuel in former Soviet states -- and Bingaman said LANL has much to offer. Also, Pakistan has nuclear weapons, and Iran and North Korea are believed to be developing nuclear threats. "Based on your experience with the Cooperative Threat Reduction Program, Los Alamos can help build a dialogue between scientists that will lead to a better environment of mutual cooperation between our country and various other countries, Pakistan included," Bingaman said. The lab has advanced inspection technology and remote monitoring technology, which can help the United States determine if other countries are diverting nuclear fuel, he said. The lab can map and predict the behavior of terrorist networks. And the lab is involved in fuel-cell and nuclear-energy research. The U.S. could stop being held hostage to foreign oil if it had viable alternatives of fuel, Bingaman said. "We would love the opportunity to step up to that kind of an initiative," lab Director Pete Nanos said. This past fiscal year, LANL spent $55 million, or almost Later, Bingaman told reporters he and presidential candidate John Kerry are like-minded. Neither senator wants to develop new nuclear weapons, but the Bush administration supports studies into the possibility. "With John Kerry's election, I think you would see a much greater willingness to have the three weapons laboratories pursue a broader set of challenges," said Bingaman, who will be on the campaign trail Saturday with Kerry in Las Cruces. Bingaman tried to relay to employees a sense of importance about their work and a sense of commitment from him. The University of California has run the lab for the U.S. Department of Energy for 62 years. Competition for the new contract could begin late this year or in January, with a five-year contract awarded by next summer. He also told reporters: "I hope that the University of California would decide to compete to continue running the laboratory and that they would be successful in that regard. I think having a world-class university as the contractor has helped to attract world-class scientists and engineers to make their careers here." Would Kerry as president assure a California win versus a Texas university win under Bush? "I would hope that whatever process is used in the Department of Energy for choosing the contractor for the next five years is not politically driven," Bingaman said. "But obviously, Washington works in strange and mysterious ways." Originally published by Santa Fe New Mexican. Learn more :: Article Archives :: Los Alamos Must Take On 'Other Missions' |
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