text: Department of Energy: Uncertainties and Management Problems Have Hindered Cleanup at Two Nuclear Waste Sites (Testimony, 07/12/2000, GAO/T-RCED-00-248). Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO discussed the: (1) challenges and uncertainties facing the Department of Energy (DOE) in cleaning up its Paducah, Kentucky, uranium enrichment site; and (2) effectiveness of DOE's oversight and management of its in-tank precipitation (ITP) project. GAO noted that: (1) DOE expects to complete the cleanup of the Paducah site by 2010 at a cost of about $1.3 billion; (2) however, numerous technical, funding, and regulatory uncertainties present challenges to DOE's ability to complete the cleanup within this timeframe and cost estimate; (3) technical uncertainties include the planned use of technologies that are unproven or perhaps not well suited to the site's conditions; (4) even when the planned cleanup has been carried out, billions of dollars and many years will be needed to address areas at the Paducah site that are not in the cleanup plan; (5) for example, the plan does not include cleaning up nearly 1 million cubic feet of waste and scrap in areas known as DOE Material Storage Areas and 16 unused and inactive buildings and structures; (6) some of the waste and scrap material pose a risk of an uncontrolled nuclear reaction that could threaten worker safety; (7) by not including these areas in the plan, the Paducah cleanup managers cannot assess risk or plan cleanup on a comprehensive, sitewide basis; (8) therefore, the picture of the cleanup task at hand is distorted; (9) a number of management and oversight problems caused DOE and Westinghouse Savannah River Corporation, DOE's contractor, to spend almost a half billion dollars and to take about a decade before deciding that the ITP process would not work safely and efficiently as designed; (10) for example, in 1993, a technical review team reported that the contractor tended to react to problems after they occurred, rather than working to prevent them in the first place; (11) the team also found that DOE lacked the necessary personnel for adequate oversight; (12) DOE and the contractor encountered delays in starting up the ITP facility because they had begun construction before the design of the process was completed; (13) DOE and the contractor encountered delays in starting up the ITP facility because they had begun construction before the design of the process was completed; (14) DOE and the contractor also did not adequately understand the cause of the technical problems--such as a lack of understanding of the chemistry involved in the ITP process--that made the process unworkable; (15) problems that led to the ITP failure may have continued in DOE's efforts to find an alternative; and (16) an October 1999 National Research Council report states that contractors appear to be focusing on an engineering solution on the basis of untested assumptions. --------------------------- Indexing Terms ----------------------------- REPORTNUM: T-RCED-00-248 TITLE: Department of Energy: Uncertainties and Management Problems Have Hindered Cleanup at Two Nuclear Waste Sites DATE: 07/12/2000 SUBJECT: Radioactive pollution Environmental monitoring Radiation exposure hazards Hazardous substances Water pollution control Nuclear facilities Nuclear waste management Uranium Radioactive waste disposal IDENTIFIER: Paducah (KY) Savannah River (SC) DOE In-Tank Precipitation Project ****************************************************************** ** This file contains an ASCII representation of the text of a ** ** GAO Testimony. ** ** ** ** No attempt has been made to display graphic images, although ** ** figure captions are reproduced. Tables are included, but ** ** may not resemble those in the printed version. ** ** ** ** Please see the PDF (Portable Document Format) file, when ** ** available, for a complete electronic file of the printed ** ** document's contents. ** ** ** ****************************************************************** GAO/T-RCED-00-248 Mr. Chairman and Members of the Task Force: We are pleased to be here today to discuss management, oversight, and other challenges that the Department of Energy (DOE) faces in its efforts to clean up radioactive and hazardous materials at the Paducah, Kentucky, uranium enrichment site and to remove high-level radioactive waste from more than 34 million gallons of liquid waste stored at its Savannah River, South Carolina, site. DOE faces a number of challenges and uncertainties at Paducah as it attempts to address about 10 billion gallons of groundwater contaminated with radioactive and hazardous materials, contaminated surface water that is in creeks and ditches and leaves the site, contamination in soils that may be spread by rain, tons of buried waste, and the equivalent of about 52,000 barrels of waste stored on the site. From 1988 though 1999, DOE spent about $388 million on the Paducah site's cleanup and plans to spend another $1.3 billion over the next 10 years. At Savannah River, we focused on identifying the factors that caused delays and cost growth of the in-tank precipitation (ITP) project. In 1983, DOE selected the ITP process to remove high-level waste from the 49 underground tanks. DOE estimated that the construction of the ITP facility would be completed in 1988 at a cost of $32 million. After years of delay and spending about a half billion dollars, in February 1998, DOE suspended the project because it would not work safely and efficiently as designed--large amounts of explosive, toxic benzene gas were produced by the process. Soon after the suspension, DOE began a process to find an alternative technology to replace the ITP project. The Department has narrowed the selection to four technologies. Our testimony today is based on our April 28, 2000, report on the Paducah cleanup and our April 30, 1999, report on the ITP project at the Savannah River Site. Our testimony describes the challenges and uncertainties facing DOE in cleaning up the Paducah site and the effectiveness of DOE's oversight and management of the ITP project. Our summary follows: * DOE expects to complete the cleanup of the Paducah site by 2010 at a cost of about $1.3 billion. However, numerous technical, funding, and regulatory uncertainties present challenges to DOE's ability to complete the cleanup within this time frame and cost estimate. For example, technical uncertainties include the planned use of technologies that are unproven or perhaps not well suited to the site's conditions. If they do not work as planned, or at all, costs will increase. In addition, even when the planned cleanup has been carried out, billions of dollars and many years will be needed to address areas at the Paducah site that are not in the cleanup plan. For example, the plan does not include cleaning up nearly 1 million cubic feet of waste and scrap in areas known as DOE Material Storage Areas (DMSA) and 16 unused and inactive buildings and structures. Some of the waste and scrap material pose a risk of an uncontrolled nuclear reaction that could threaten worker safety. By not including these areas in the plan, the Paducah cleanup managers cannot assess risk or plan cleanup on a comprehensive, sitewide basis. Therefore, the picture of the cleanup task at hand is distorted. * A number of management and oversight problems caused DOE and Westinghouse Savannah River Corporation (Westinghouse), DOE's contractor, to spend almost a half billion dollars and to take about a decade before deciding that the ITP process would not work safely and efficiently as designed. For example, in 1993, a technical review team reported that the contractor tended to react to problems after they occurred, rather than working to prevent them in the first place. The team also found that DOE lacked the necessary personnel for adequate oversight. Moreover, DOE and the contractor encountered delays in starting up the ITP facility because they had begun construction before the design of the process was completed. DOE and the contractor also did not adequately understand the cause of the technical problems-such as a lack of understanding of the chemistry involved in the ITP process--that made the process unworkable. Some of the problems that led to the ITP failure may have continued in DOE's efforts to find an alternative. According to an October 1999 National Research Council report, a lack of understanding of the chemistry involved in the process continues, and the contractor appears to be focusing on an engineering solution on the basis of untested assumptions. Challenges and Uncertainties Face DOE in Paducah's Cleanup In 1988, radioactive contamination was found in the drinking water wells of residences near the federal government's uranium enrichment plant in Paducah, Kentucky. In response, DOE began a cleanup program to identify and remove contamination in the groundwater, surface water, and soils located within and outside the plant's boundaries. Sources of the hazardous chemical and radioactive contamination included spills, leaks from contaminated buildings, buried waste, scrap yards, and waste lagoons. From 1988 though 1999, DOE spent about $388 million on cleanup efforts. DOE's plan for cleaning up the site includes activities, costs, and schedule that are estimated to cost about $1.3 billion from fiscal year 2000 through fiscal year 2010. We identified a number of challenges to accomplishing the current cleanup plan, including uncertainty about the nature and extent of contamination, technical risks, and optimistic assumptions about funding and regulatory approvals. In addition, even when the cleanup identified in the plan is complete, billions of dollars and many years will be required to address items not included in the cleanup plan-such as about 1 million cubic feet of waste and scrap material in DOE Material Storage Areas. DOE Plans to Clean Up Six Major Categories by 2010 at a Cost of About $1.3 Billion DOE's January 26, 2000, Paducah cleanup plan focuses on six major categories of cleanup. The first category is groundwater contamination. About 10 billion gallons of groundwater contaminated with radioactive and hazardous materials are flowing toward the Ohio River. For example, trichloroethene (used as a degreaser and called TCE) has been found in the groundwater at levels of up to 700,000 parts per billion; far in excess of the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) drinking water standard of 5 parts per billion. As interim measures, DOE has connected nearby residences to municipal drinking water and constructed a system to pump some of the contaminated water out and treat it. The second category is surface water contamination in surrounding creeks and ditches. One of the main sources of this contamination is the thousands of tons of contaminated scrap metal stored at the plant. During rainstorms, contamination washes from the scrap metal, and the runoff carries contaminated soils and sediments into the ditches and creeks. By the end of 2000, DOE plans to have removed that portion of the contaminated scrap metal called "Drum Mountain," which is made up of about 8,000 tons of crushed drums that contained depleted uranium. But, after the crushed drums are removed, 57,000 tons ,or 88 percent, of the total amount of scrap metal on site will still have to be removed. DOE also plans to dredge ditches and creeks and install basins to catch the contaminated water so it can be treated. Under the third category, DOE has identified 72 areas with contaminated surface soils and has taken interim measures, such as installing erosion control fences, to prevent further migration of the contamination; the Department plans to excavate and dispose of about 35,000 cubic yards of soil. The fourth category includes 12 waste burial grounds containing a variety of radioactive and hazardous contaminants, including arsenic, beryllium, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). DOE is planning to excavate four or five of these areas and install a protective cover, or cap, over the remaining areas. The fifth category is the equivalent of 52,000 barrels of hazardous and low-level radioactive waste stored in various locations on-site--almost 25 percent of the barrels are stored outdoors and are deteriorating. Before it can ship this waste offsite, DOE must determine the nature and extent of the waste's contamination and repack most of the barrels to make them suitable for disposal. Under the sixth and last category, two buildings that were used in the uranium enrichment process until 1977, which are heavily contaminated, will be decontaminated and removed. DOE Faces Challenges in Achieving Its Paducah Cleanup Plan DOE faces many challenges to completing its cleanup within planned costs and schedules. Uncertainties about the extent, source, and nature of contamination yet to be cleaned up could increase cleanup costs. For example, the full extent of contamination in the surface water and soils within and outside the plant boundaries remains to be determined and could affect cleanup strategies and costs. While Kentucky prefers the installation of eight or nine sedimentation basins as part of the surface water cleanup, DOE has only budgeted for four. Furthermore, uncertainties exist about the feasibility of available cleanup technologies. Some of the technologies are new, and others remain untested for the specific environment found at Paducah. For example, EPA officials told us that difficulties with steam injection--which DOE plans to use to treat the source of groundwater contamination--were encountered at another site, and there are questions about whether the technology will work at Paducah because of the site's complex geologic formation. DOE's ability to treat the contaminated groundwater is also uncertain. DOE plans to install about 4,000 feet of permeable treatment barriers across the paths of the highest concentrations of contamination. Installing the barriers involves injecting a gelatinous, gummy substance containing iron filings into the aquifer at depths of about 120 feet. The technology is quite new, and the potential for its success at Paducah is uncertain. For example, if groundwater flows too quickly through the barrier and thus spends too little time in the treatment zone, the barrier may not have enough time to fully treat the TCE. In that case, the actions of the barrier's treatment zone could change the TCE to vinyl chloride, which is even more toxic. In addition to the technical uncertainties, the cleanup plan is built on some optimistic financial assumptions. The plan assumes that federal funding for cleanup at Paducah will increase to an average of $124 million annually over the next decade--ranging from $78 million in 2001 to a high of $307 million in 2008-- compared with the annual average funding of $43 million over the last 7 years. The plan also includes optimistic assumptions about quickly reaching agreement with the regulators on cleanup levels, strategies, and priorities. In the past, regulators have disagreed with some of DOE's proposed approaches. For example, Kentucky objected to DOE's cleanup of PCBs in soils to EPA's standard of 25 parts per million for unoccupied space, saying that it wanted the soil cleaned up to 1 part per million. The more stringent EPA standard would allow for industrial or residential use. The resolution of this issue has been deferred until DOE submits its plans for surface water cleanup. If DOE receives less funding than assumed and/or eventually adopts a more stringent cleanup level than currently planned, total costs to complete the overall cleanup will grow. DOE's Cleanup Plan for Paducah Does Not Address All Areas that Require Cleanup Even when DOE completes the cleanup that it has planned, billions of dollars and many years will be needed to address areas at the Paducah site that are not included in the cleanup plan because they fall under the purview of a different departmental program. The plan excludes nearly a million cubic feet of waste and scrap contained in 148 DMSAs located across the site. Materials in these areas include thousands of barrels of low-level radioactive waste, PCB waste, and asbestos waste; contaminated equipment; various items and containers whose contents are unknown; and scrap metal. DOE has not yet determined the exact nature and extent of contamination in these areas, but it has identified 73 of them as posing a risk of an uncontrolled nuclear reaction. In this case, such a reaction might produce a burst of radiation that generally lasts several hours but is nto expected to result in an explosion or release of radioactivity into the atmosphere. At the time of our report, DOE officials said they planned to pay nearly $5 million to conduct a nuclear criticality safety review on the 10 DMSAs posing the highest risk. The cleanup plan also does not address 16 unused buildings and structures that were originally used as part of the enrichment process. These buildings and structures, as well as the DMSAs, are excluded from the plan not because they require no action but because they fall under a different departmental program-the Office of Nuclear Energy, Science, and Technology. DOE officials told us that they are hesitant to transfer any more areas to the Office of Environmental Management, the office responsible for cleanup, because this office already has a large workload and funding for cleanup is limited. In addition, before the site can be considered clean, DOE will need to address almost 500,000 tons of depleted uranium stored on site as well as decontaminate and decommission the uranium enrichment plant, when it ceases operation. DOE estimates that it may cost between $1.8 billion and $2.4 billion to convert the depleted uranium to a more stable form and remove it from the site. In addition, according to DOE's January 1998 estimate, another $1 billion would be needed for final decontamination and decommissioning activities when the United States Enrichment Corporation ceases operations at Paducah and the plant is returned to DOE. To ensure that cleanup risks and priorities are established on a comprehensive, sitewide basis and that a more comprehensive picture of the cleanup is presented to the Congress, our April report recommended that the Secretary of Energy transfer the responsibility for the DMSAs and the unused buildings and structures from the Office of Nuclear Energy to the Office of Environmental Management. We also recommended that DOE address in the cleanup plan, regardless of the current organizational responsibility, any and all materials at the site that are potential health hazards and reexamine the sitewide contamination risks and cleanup priorities, costs, and schedules. In response to our recommendations, DOE officials announced, in July 2000, that it will prepare an integrated sitewide plan that will address all aspects of the site requiring cleanup. However, it has not transferred the responsibility for these areas to the Office of Environmental Management. Without doing so, it will be more difficult to establish priorities and conduct the cleanup in a comprehensive manner. ITP Fails to Work After 10 Years and a Half Billion Dollars The ITP process was selected in 1983 as the preferred method for separating high-level waste from the 34 million gallons of liquid waste stored at the Savannah River site--a step considered necessary to effectively handle this large quantity of waste. In 1985, DOE estimated that it would take about 3 years and $32 million to construct the ITP facility. After a number of delays, the ITP facility was started up in 1995, but safety concerns about the amount of explosive, toxic benzene gas that the facility generated halted start-up operations. In February 1998, after about a decade of delays and spending almost a half billion dollars, DOE suspended the project because it did not work as safely and efficiently as designed. DOE then directed that its contractor begin a process to identify and select an alternative technology. Although originally expected to be completed in the fall of 1999, that selection process continues today with additional research and evaluations being made on four alternatives. DOE's plan calls for making a decision on the preferred alternative in June 2001. A number of factors combined to cause DOE and Westinghouse to spend almost a half billion dollars and take about a decade to decide that the ITP process would not work as safely and efficiently as designed. First, because of ineffective DOE and contractor management and oversight during the 1980s and early 1990s, ITP problems were not being adequately dealt with. In addition, DOE and the contractor experienced difficulty managing the project's start-up operations. Furthermore, there was limited oversight and visibility of the project because of the budgetary treatment it received. Lastly, the ITP process and the generation of toxic, explosive benzene were not fully understood. Weaknesses Existed in Contractors' Management and DOE's Oversight The principal factors contributing to the delays and increased costs of the project were ineffective management and oversight by DOE and its operating contractors. A number of these problems were noted in 1993 by a DOE technical review team (referred to as the Red Team) that examined the project as well as in semiannual evaluations of contractor performance. The Red Team reported that the contractor tended to use "reactive, discovery management" to react to problems after they occurred, rather than working to prevent problems in the first place. It found that this approach resulted in a high potential for inadequate process development, lengthening the project, and increasing its costs. The Red Team also reported that DOE oversight and support functions at the Savannah River site were not adequate because DOE lacked the necessary personnel. As a result, DOE's guidance and responsiveness to Westinghouse, the site contractor, were limited. Finally, the team found that DOE's organizational responsibilities appeared unclear and the DOE staff were forced to respond in a reactive manner to emerging issues. Contractor management problems also surfaced repeatedly in the semiannual evaluations DOE performed to assess Westinghouse's eligibility for award fees. We found that in 14 of the 16 evaluations performed from April 1990 through March 1998, DOE identified weaknesses needing attention in contractor management or ITP planning activities. For example, a 1992 evaluation stated that performance against planned work was not adequately monitored and that technical documents had deficiencies indicating a lack of management attention. A 1995 evaluation noted that insufficient resources had been assigned to meet the project schedule. In addition, a 1996 evaluation noted that while safety concerns about benzene gas from the ITP process was a key issue, the implementation of a program to resolve the benzene issue had been fragmented and no single manager had been given overall responsibility for resolving it. Managing the Project's Start-Up Posed Difficulties The ITP project was managed on a fast-track schedule--concurrent design and construction--with an emphasis on pushing ahead in the belief that the problems could be solved later. Rather than expediting the ITP project, this approach caused a series of delays that prolonged the project for 10 years while costs mounted. A number of studies in the early 1990s noted this problem, as the following examples show. * A 1992 Westinghouse management assessment concluded that a number of start-up activities were begun prematurely--before the foundation for an efficient program was in place. The key weaknesses observed included a lack of a technical baseline and a potential for inconsistencies among the project's various activities because they were not completely integrated. * Our 1992 report on Savannah River's Defense Waste Processing Facility, which included the ITP project, cited the fast-track management method being used as contributing to the project's cost growth. We also stated that there was a risk associated with that method, especially when used with unique and complex facilities. We recommended that an assessment comparing ITP with an alternative technology be made. * The 1993 Red Team report noted that the project's start-up was not being managed as a first-of-a-kind chemical-processing system. It stated that Westinghouse was not following the accepted chemical engineering practice of completing process development, demonstrating the operability of the process on a pilot scale, and assessing all long-term impacts and requirements for sustaining the process before beginning plant operations. The Red Team recommended that alternatives to the ITP process be considered. In response to our 1999 report, Westinghouse acknowledged that the risks associated with new applications of existing technologies were not managed well on the ITP project-that is, enough time was not built into the schedule to allow for the kinds of technical problems that arose. DOE Savannah River officials noted that ITP was a first-of-a-kind process and that because of funding constraints, they were scaling up the technology from lab tests to full-scale without the benefit of additional test facilities. Furthermore, DOE officials said they considered alternatives to ITP as the project progressed. DOE said it determined that risks were inherent in ITP and the alternative processes but that costs still favored the ITP process, so the project proceeded. The DOE Savannah River High-Level Waste Division Director said the Department is now attempting to manage the high-level waste program, of which ITP is a part, using a systems engineering approach that dictates that more testing be done up front. Oversight and Visibility Were Limited by Budgetary Treatment DOE paid for the ITP project with operating funds that are subject to less oversight and visibility than capital construction funds. Capital construction projects are subject to periodic reviews and reports, and those costing $5 million or more are shown as line items in the budget requests that DOE submits to the Congress. Projects paid for with operating funds do not receive such scrutiny. DOE officials said they used operating funds for the ITP project because, throughout the life of the project, they had expected the technical issues to be solved shortly, thus not warranting its conversion to a capital construction project, which would be funded as a line item in DOE's budget request. This is not a new issue. We raised concerns about this practice in our 1992 report, noting that because projects associated with Savannah River's Defense Waste Processing Facility were being funded from operating accounts, the Congress was not receiving enough information to fully understand the magnitude of the continuing cost increases and delays. Inadequate Understanding of the ITP Process Extended the Project DOE and its contractors did not completely understand the ITP chemistry that caused excess benzene to be generated. Earlier in the project, the Westinghouse staff at the Savannah River Site identified the principal cause of benzene generation as the decomposition of the chemical (sodium tetraphenylborate) that was added to the tank waste during the ITP process to separate the high-level waste from the liquid waste solution. The benzene was thought to become trapped in the solution and be released with the addition of water and mixing. In 1997, after a recommendation by the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board, additional research into the chemistry revealed that a catalyst or catalysts that produced large amounts of benzene were present in the waste solution. The contractor based its initial belief on the results of the full-scale test conducted in 1983 and on subsequent smaller-scale tests. For the 1983 test, sodium tetraphenylborate was added to a tank with about 500,000 gallons of waste. During the test, a good separation of high-level waste occurred. However, a significant release of benzene was also observed--for 6 hours, the benzene levels were higher than the level that the instruments in the tank could register. As a result, additional studies were conducted. According to many DOE ITP project employees with whom we spoke, the test in 1983 was viewed as successful and provided credibility for the project's technology. However, an ITP engineer told us that the fact that the benzene level went over the instrumentation scale for 6 hours was not widely known. The test results seemed to have been forgotten over time. For example, two ITP project managers involved with the project since 1997 told us they were unaware of this aspect of the test. During the development of the ITP process, we and the Red Team raised concerns about unresolved technical issues and the level of understanding the ITP process, as shown in the following: * Our 1992 report raised concerns about the ITP process's unresolved technical issues and delays and recommended that the Secretary of Energy direct that an assessment of an alternative technology (ion-exchange process) be prepared to determine whether DOE should replace the ITP process. * In 1993, the Red Team noted that the chemistry of the ITP process was not adequately understood and that the ITP process appeared to cause more problems than it solved. These problems included a need to control benzene emissions; increased flammability risks; increased risk from aerosols, foams, and respirable particulates; increased chemical reactivity of high-level waste, leading to possible explosions; and the introduction of extremely complex organic chemistry. * The Red Team also questioned whether the chemical used in the ITP process--sodium tetraphenylborate--was the best way to remove cesium from the liquid waste. It concluded that effective technologies were available and could be implemented. It noted that if the state environmental regulators adopted a more restrictive benzene emissions policy, the entire high-level waste complex, as well as the Savannah River Site itself, would be better served by a thorough reevaluation of alternative technologies. In response to our 1999 report, DOE Savannah River officials told us that they considered the concerns raised but did not change their approach for a number of reasons. In their view, in 1992 and 1993, ITP was considered to be the best technology available for the type of high-level waste at the Savannah River Site. In addition, they believed that they understood the benzene generation problems and thought the problems had been identified, evaluated, and resolved. A number of modifications were made to the ITP facility, primarily to address the generation of benzene and to meet the more stringent safety standards that were adopted for all DOE facilities. Throughout this period, DOE Savannah River officials said that they considered the ITP process to have the lowest technical risk and the lowest cost of all the alternatives. DOE Is Evaluating Four Alternatives to Replace ITP Although pointed out by the Red Team, the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board, and us, the lack of understanding of the chemistry of the ITP process may plague the selection of the replacement for ITP. In the fall of 1999, the National Research Council released an interim report on the alternative processes being considered for the high-level waste at the Savannah River site. Regarding one of the alternative technologies, called small-tank precipitation, which basically uses the same chemical to separate the high-level waste as the ITP process does, the report found that Westinghouse lacked an adequate understanding of the chemistry underlying the process responsible for benzene generation. The Council further reported that in place of such an understanding, Westinghouse appeared to be focusing on an engineering design solution that was based on untested assumptions about maximum likely benzene production. The Council believed it would be advantageous in terms of time and cost to undertake this research and development work before the process might be selected and deployed. The alternative--namely, to proceed with deployment immediately and engineer around the gaps in chemistry knowledge--carries a high technical risk and could result in a repeat of the ITP failure. As a result of the National Research Council report, DOE decided that further research and development on each alternative was required to reduce technical uncertainty prior to selecting a preferred alternative. The National Research Council's report also suggests that Westinghouse may have a bias for its process, which is the small-tank precipitation alternative. The Council reported that the research and development resource allocations have been markedly inequitable for the four alternative processing options that DOE and the contractor are considering. It said that this funding disparity appears to be primarily responsible for the different levels of technical maturity of the four processing options, independent of their likelihood of success. The Council found in its discussions with the contractor and DOE staff that the contractor did not appear to be serious about pursuing research and development on any option but small-tank precipitation. These concerns were addressed when DOE removed research and development management responsibility from Westinghouse for the other options in October 1999 and limited its responsibility to the small-tank precipitation process. Although the Secretary of Energy had announced in April 1999 that a new contractor would be sought to continue work on separation processes at Savannah River, Westinghouse remained responsible for research and development on all the alternatives until October 1999. In addition, DOE officials told us that (1) DOE has developed an action plan and project schedule that includes the steps necessary for choosing a preferred alternative by June 2001 and designing, constructing, and operating the facility by 2010; (2) DOE is developing selection criteria that will be used to pick the preferred alternative, which may include such factors as technical maturity, risk, life-cycle cost, and implementation confidence; and (3) DOE is using a technical working group to oversee the research and development being undertaken. - - - - - In summary, Mr. Chairman, the issues we have raised today concerning these two projects illustrate the types of issues that we have raised in the past as part of the major performance and management challenges at DOE. For example, we reported to the Congress in January 1999 that DOE has difficulty completing large projects on time and within budget, that DOE contract management remains vulnerable to risk, and that DOE's staff lack technical and management skills. These were touched on in the examples we provided today. While DOE has made improvements in all these areas, many of the issues are at the heart of DOE's culture as an organization and will take time and focused management attention to change. Continued oversight by this and other committees will continue to spotlight the progress made and challenges ahead to ensure that DOE continues to improve. Mr. Chairman, this concludes our prepared statement. We will be pleased to respond to any questions that you or Members of the Committee may have. Contact and Acknowledgement For future contacts regarding this testimony, please contact Ms. Gary L. Jones on (202) 512-3841. Individuals making key contributions to this testimony include Erin Barlow, Rachel Hesselink, and Glen Trochelman. (141469)Orders by Internet For information on how to access GAO reports on the Internet, send an e-mail message with "info" in the body to HYPERLINK mailto:[email protected] [email protected] Or visit GAO's World Wide Web home page at HYPERLINK http://www.gao.gove http://www.gao.gov To Report Fraud, Waste, and Abuse in Federal Programs Web site: http://www.gao.gov/fraudnet/fraudnet.html E-mail: HYPERLINK mailto:[email protected] [email protected] Automated answering system: 1-800-424-5454 *** End of document. ***


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|Trailridge Runners 4WD Club /
Northern Colorado Trail Riders
9th Annual Lefthand Canyon Cleanup
|story and photos by Adam Mehlberg
|[Note: Lefthand Canyon is north of Boulder, Colorado and west of Longmont, Colorado in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains.]
The 2001 Lefthand Canyon Cleanup was a great success. Even with the four days of rain prior to the cleanup, we had over 100 people volunteer from eight different clubs. Northern Colorado Trail Riders, Rocky Mountain Enduro Circuit, Trailridge Runners 4WD Club, Colorado Go-4's, Big Thompson 4 Wheelers, Hillbillies, Mile Hi Jeep Club, the Hobo Jeepers of Mile Hi Jeep Club, and members of the local shooting community.
This year we had two dumpsters, our normal donated one, and another purchased by the Boulder Ranger District. There was a large turn out early and the first shooting area was picked up quickly. Darrel had his Bobcat which worked great with Rays pickup dump bed for transferring the bags of trash to the dumpster.
By 11:00am we had the majority of the Lefthand area cleaned up. A few went up to the upper meadows, but with all the rain earlier, the going was sloppy. The hot dogs and hamburgers were cooked up and ready before noon. Everyone had their fill. During Lunch Martha Moran of the Boulder Ranger District thanked all of us volunteers for helping take care of our public lands. John Oppenlander of the Boulder Ranger District was also present and communicated with the volunteers during the project about safety concerns.
After lunch a group went up to the shooting area along County 94 beyond Lefthand and cleaned it up as well. By the end of the project both dumpsters were full.
Though the plan was to install the new No Shooting signs purchased by the Forest Service during the cleanup, the prior weather prevented the post installation. After the Cleanup the 3' x 4' steel plate signs were installed onto concrete filled 8" square steel tubing at the two shooting areas below the 4WD road, before the hairpin turn. Though the signs will be shot at, it will take some time to completely destroy these 1" thick plates. The Forest Service also plans to increase enforcement this summer of the No Shooting order placed on the area below the 4WD road.

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Ceremony: 3 p.m. Saturday, June 1, 2013, at Stockton Arena
Number of graduates: 422
Valedictorians: Eduardo Cervantes and Tatum Halligan
Salutatorians: Lexie Ornelas and Megan Wong
Commencement speakers: Students Cervantes, Halligan, Ornelas, Wong and Malkiel Mao
Notable: The Franklin campus continues to expand construction-wise, providing an environment more conducive earning for the students.
Send us your graduation photos at recordnet.com/graduation.
Location, ST | website.com


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Newly Public REITs Back in Investors' Favor
Real estate investment trusts are receiving more love from investors for their initial public offerings as these companies show Wall Street the money.
According to a report this week from SNL Financial, nearly all the five REIT IPOs completed this year have outpaced returns of the broader market. It was a much different scene a year ago when a lot of issuers had to appease investors with steep discounts or even scuttle offerings as investors remained extremely picky about taking on new REITs.
Who could blame them? Investors had been burned too many times by REIT IPOs that saw their share prices deflate shortly after they became public. The key problems with those deals were they too small in size, poor asset quality or the companies had no proven track record. "What investors got with (those) IPOs were…a number of much smaller companies within traditional property types that maybe didn't have exposure to desirable markets," says Keven Lindemann, director of the real estate group at SNL Financial.
Mr. Lindemann says in the last six months there have been a number of non-traditional real-estate companies like landlords of data centers, single-family rentals and farmlands, go public with strong demand.
REITs, which pay no corporate taxes as long as they pay out their taxable income as dividends, raised nearly $1.2 billion via the IPO market as of May 17, according to SNL. Such volume is on track to outpace the $1.3 billion raised in all of 2012 and $1.8 billion in 2011.
Among the companies sporting the greatest post-IPO gains include CyrusOne, a data-center REIT which was up 17.82% as of May 17 since its $360.5 million IPO in mid-January. That return beat the SNL US REIT Equity index return over the same period by 2.79 percentage points.
Health-care landlord Aviv REIT, which raised $303.6 million in an IPO on March 20, posted a return of 51.5% through May 17, outpacing the SNL's index return of 11.5% during the same time period.


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An alliance of big tech companies has formed to create standards for communications related to the Internet of things and all electronic devices.
The Open Interconnect Consortium wants to deliver an open-source specification for wirelessly connecting devices. The members include Atmel, Broadcom, Dell, Intel, Samsung, and Intel's Wind River embedded-software division. The group seeks to accelerate the development of the Internet of things.
The Open Interconnect Consortium's first open-source code will target smart homes and office solutions.
The Internet of things is expected to consist of 212 billion devices by the year 2020, including PCs, smartphones, tablets, wearables, and a variety of home and industrial appliances, according to market researcher International Data Corp. But to achieve that, chip makers and others in the electronics food chain must agree upon how to connect wireless devices together. The companies want to create a communications framework based on industry standard technologies to wirelessly connect and manage the flow of data among devices. They want the communications to work regardless of form factor, operating system, or service provider.
The consortium will compete the AllSeen alliance, which includes Qualcomm, LG, Panasonic, Sharp, and Microsoft. From what I hear, there's a rift in the industry over who will own the intellectual property related to the communications.
Intel is a world leader in computing innovation. The company designs and builds the essential technologies that serve as the foundation for the world's computing devices. As a leader in co... All Intel news »


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Police say preliminary investigation shows the death appears to be consistent with suicide by overdose. Hamilton County Coroner Virginia Jennings authorized removal of the body by Miller Funeral Home, Indian Lake, to Nathan Littauer Hospital in Gloversville, where an autopsy was conducted Aug. 2. A report will not be released until toxicology testing is complete.
Saturday, Aug. 2, 3:33 a.m.: Steven Rajca, 24, Northville, was stopped by State Police for speeding in the Town of Wells. He was also charged with operating a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration of more than .08 percent - two priors, a Class D felony; and DWI - first offense, a Class U misdemeanor.
Saturday, Aug. 2, 10:35 p.m.: Stephen Gagne, 57, Indian Lake, has been charged with DWI - first offense. State Police made the arrest on Rt. 9 in the Town of Schroon.
Sunday, Aug. 3, 2:46 a.m.: Mitchell R. Edwards, 26, Wells, was charged with operating a motor vehicle with a BAC of more than .08 percent - first offense, and DWI - first offense, both Class U misdemeanors; unlawful possession of marijuana, a violation; and speeding. State Police arrested him on Woods Hollow Road in the Town of Mayfield.
Information in the Police Report is provided by the law enforcement agencies cited, unless otherwise noted.


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Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty broadcasts in 28 languages. Most of our programs are available on FM and medium-wave frequencies of local radio stations in the countries of our broadcast area. If you are having problems listening to programs on the internet, please read our technical help document.
Almaty, 26 April 2005 (RFE/RL) -- Russian authorities have released Irina Petrusheva, an opposition journalist who was detained in Russia at the request of the Kazakh police.
April 26, 2005
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty © 2016 RFE/RL, Inc. All Rights Reserved.


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Metro Tiles
Our range of Metro Tiles gives a fantastic contemporary finish to any space, using brickwork-like tiling to create a modern and elegant appearance.
Available in a range of bold colours you can choose cool off-whites or opt for colours that make a statement.
Metro White has been proven superior in quality when compared to other tiles in the market place in an independent study.


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SAN FRANCISCO -- Berti Vogts, one of the greatest defenders in German history, has dual roles this week in the Bay Area.
Vogts, 67, is in charge of Azerbaijan's national team that plays the United States on Tuesday night at Candlestick Park in the Americans' first exhibition game as a World Cup unit.
Then he will join U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann as an adviser who scouts the Americans' upcoming World Cup opponents.
The man who also coached Scotland and Nigeria already has some thoughts about Ghana, the Americans' first World Cup challenge June 16 in Brazil.
"The striker and the midfielders are very, very good," Vogts said Sunday before Azerbaijan trained at Candlestick. "They're quick, they are physical."
Vogts added that the United States' best chance might be attacking from the wings, because Ghana's defense is compact. He also said Ghana plays similarly to Nigeria.
The Americans are scheduled to face Nigeria in an exhibition June 7 in Jacksonville, Florida, before departing for Brazil.
"Ghana is one of the best teams in Africa," Vogts added. "And all the players, they play around the world, good players. The most important thing is to win the first match.
"But first, the USA, they have to play against Azerbaijan."
"I saw him in the training," Vogts said. "He is a very, very talented player. He's very quick, and speedy, that's what you need. Maybe he can come in the last 20 minutes, the last 10 minutes."
"He did it, and he started a big, big career," Vogts said. "He is so enthusiastic. He's more American than a German. The Germans are always thinking about things, but Jurgen is so positive, that's the American way of life. That's good for the team, good for the supporters, good for all of them here."
"We didn't have a bromance hug," Besler said before practice Sunday at Stanford. "I'm sorry to disappoint you."
Bedoya, whose parents are Colombian immigrants from Miami, appreciates the distinction.
"I feel like I am the only Latin American," said Bedoya, who plays at Nantes in the top French division. "No offense to Omar, but I speak way better Spanish than he does."


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Revista chilena de literatura
versión On-line ISSN 0718-2295
NITSCHACK, Horst. MARIO VARGAS LLOSA: LA FICCIONALIZACIÓN DE LA HISTORIA EN LA GUERRA DEL FIN DEL MUNDO. Rev. chil. lit. [online]. 2011, n.80, pp.117-133. ISSN 0718-2295. http://dx.doi.org/10.4067/S0718-22952011000300006.
In the novel The War of the End of the World (La guerra del fin del mundo) Mario Vargas Llosa presents a rewriting and fictionalization of Euclides da Cunha's foundational text Os Sertdes. The article relates this novel to the radical change in Mario Vargas Llosa's ideological and political convictions in the 1970s and intends to analyze how the author's neo-liberal positions are reflected in the poetics of this novel. The central argument is that in this process of fictionalization of Euclides da Cunha's text, two strategies can be discovered: the first being the individualization of History, that is, the narrative privileges the subjective experiences of the characters to explain their disposition to violence; the second refers to the fictionalization's paradox of pretending to represent the unrepresentable while letting the reader know that it is just fiction. In other words, the reader has to decide to what extent s/he is willing to identify the narration with the historical "truth". In both cases we are dealing with a poetics that values individual and subjective responsibility instead of the individual's dependence on the collective or the narrative's commitment to objectify history.
Palabras clave : Fictionalization; referentiality; individualization; violence; Canudos.


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It ends here! All loose ends are laid to rest in this collection that ends the All Hail Megatron saga and sets the stage for big things to come for the Transformers!. Price: $14.40
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Fred The Godson revisits his "Gordo Frederico" mixtape to shoot a video for track #11 'Slow Flow'. Directed by Rob Smith.
Watch the video below.
Previously: Fred The Godson – Love Sosa Freestyle (Video)
Pingback: Video: Fred The Godson – Slow Flow | Rap Roof HipHop/R&B()
Pingback: Fred The Godson – The City (Prod. by The Heatmakerz) | Xclusives Zone()


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Atlantis: Pearls of the Deep is now available!
30th of November, 2012
Match-3 gameplay meets physics puzzles. Download and check out at Legacy Games.
Atlantis: Pearls of the Deep trailer
14th of November, 2012
Coming to PC/Mac on the 27th of November!
Coming Soon: Pearls of the Deep
12th of November, 2012
Our new, physics based, marble popper puzzle game is coming to PC in November 2012!
Mac and mobile versions will be launched a few weeks later.
New design
11th of November, 2012
We're happy to announce that our new website design has been launched today!
Copyright 2012. Alder Games, Ltd.


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Search results for 'warhammer'
Opaque Blue and White 6 Sided Dice$0.50This opaque 6 sided dice has white numbers on a blue dice. Durable for everyday game play and great for the Game Master on a budget. Two for $1.00 is a great way to build your dice supply for using with your empire. Learn More


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Definition of beta particle in English:
beta particle
(also beta ray)
A fast-moving electron emitted by radioactive decay of substances. (The emission of beta particles was originally regarded as a ray.).
Example sentences
- When it decays it emits a beta particle and a gamma ray, leaving behind a protactinium - 234 atom.
- During this process (mediated by a virtual W - particle) the nucleus expels a negative beta particle (electron or negatron) as radiation.
- The weak nuclear force is involved, and the neutron is converted into a proton when the beta particle is emitted.
For editors and proofreaders
Syllabification: be·ta par·ti·cle
Definition of beta particle in:
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= trending


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Top Definition
Used by Ash (Army of Darkness) when describing his 12 gauge, double barrel Remington shotgun. His boomstick retails for around 109.95 at S-Mart, and was produced in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
"This is my BOOMSTICK!"
Anonymous tarafından 30 Haziran 2003, Pazartesi
Trending Now
Can you define these popular missing words?
Photos & Videos
A kickass way of saying "shotgun."
This... is my BOOMSTICK!
Rainsdark tarafından 29 Ocak 2003, Çarşamba
big nasty shotgun as used by Ash in Army of darkness. Use with movie quote "This is my BOOMSTICK!" when talking to a 14th century primitive culture to explain the principal of firearms and their safe use.
Go watch the film it rocks.
boomstick tarafından 10 Ekim 2003, Cuma
Double-barrel 12 gauge blue steele Remington shotgun. Retails for around 109.95, produced in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Shop smart: Shop S-Mart.
aiden diabhal tarafından 15 Ocak 2004, Perşembe
The twelve-gauge double-barreled Remington. S-Mart's top of the line. You can find this in the sporting goods department. That's right, this sweet baby was made in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Retails for about a hundred and nine, ninety five. It's got a walnut stock, cobalt blue steel, and a hair trigger. That's right. Shop smart. Shop S-Mart. You got that?
Alright you primitive screwheads - listen up! Ya see this? This... is my BOOMSTICK!
Matt..... tarafından 27 Haziran 2009, Cumartesi
NFL punter Pat Mcafee's kicking leg.
Pat's boomstick is twice the size of his non-kicking leg.
fatandsassy tarafından 25 Şubat 2014, Salı
One of the trademark weapons of the movie series "Evil Dead". It is a twelve-gauge double barrel Remington with a walnut stock,cobalt steel barrel,and hair trigger. The main character, Ashley J. Williams,acquires it from the Knowby cabin(Which he states int he third movie can be bought at S-Mart),where he also got his chainsaw hand and the Necronomicon ex-mortis, and he sawed-off the barrel and uses it to fight the deadites in the movies. He calls it his " Boomstick "in the third movie and it also is most famous with the quote " This.....is my boomstick!"
Ash:Alright you primitive screw heads,listen up. You see this? This...is my boomstick! It's a twelve-guage double barrel Remington. S-Mart's top of line. You can find this in the sporting goods department. That's right,this sweet baby was made in Grand Rapids,Michigan. Retails for about $109.95. It's got a walnut stock,cobalt steel barrel,and hair trigger. Shop smart,shop S-Mart.
AshleyWilliams tarafından 6 Ağustos 2014, Çarşamba


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Juergen Querengaesser
: Hi,
: I have a hot-swappable flash-disk in our devices. Does anybody knows,
: how to create/modify a partition of such a device? (I found no
: fdisk-command line parameters to do that).
how is hotswappable different to other types?
Have you actually run fdisk and attempted to create a partition?
Was there a problem?


text: Hi Everyone☺ I'm Katie from Katie's Nesting Spot and it's my honor to be a part of Kim's Creativity Week here at seven thirty three! I am excited to share one of my favorite projects with you, along with a little bit about myself. Below is my family, who along with our daily adventures are featured a lot on my blog. I am a former kindergarten and special education teacher, … [Read more...]


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Thunder Mountain Camera Club awards 2011 winners
Feb 13, 2012, 1:28 p.m.
The Thunder Mountain Camera Club award for "Photographer of the Year" went to Sharon Bradshaw at the club's annual banquet on Saturday, January 14. The award, known as the Hans Kunz Memorial, went to Bradshaw, as she scored the most points during the bi-monthly competitions in 2011.
"People's Choice Awards" were chosen by members and guests at the banquet. The Al Ligrani Memorial for "Best Projected Image" was received by Jamie Zartman for "Early Spring Rocky Mountain Park." The Roy Clark Memorial for "Level 1 Best Color Print" went to Robert Pratt for "Fisher Towers and La Sal Mountains." The Roy Clark Memorial for "Level 2 Best Color Print" went to Jurgita Lukoseviciene for "Chipmunk." The Ansel Adams Memorial for the "Best Black & White Print" went to Robert Pratt for "Evening Calm." The "Best Digitally Enhanced Print" went to Sharon Bradshaw for "High Contrast Elements."
Year-end judging consisted of prints and projected images that placed first through fourth throughout the year. Judging was done by Ken Redding.
Beginner/Intermediate Color Prints
1st - "Golden Weeds" by Jurgita Lukoseviciene
2nd - "Lunchtime" by Ona Griffiths
3rd - "Tulip" by Jurgita Lukoseviciene
4th - "Chipmunk" by Jurgita
Advanced Color Prints
1st – "Oh Hello" by Sharon Bradshaw
2nd - "Neighborhood Color" by Bob Pratt
3rd - "Closed Columbine" by Donna Fullerton
4th - "Ranch Horse" by Sharon Bradshaw
Black and White Prints
1st - "Storm is Coming" by Jurgita Lukoseviciene
2nd - "Thimble Rock" by Jurgita Lukoseviciene
3rd - "Winter Storm" by Sharon Bradshaw
4th - "Fish & Ripples" by Glen Bishard
Digitally Enhanced Prints
1st - "Lilac" by Kathleen Wilkinson
2nd - "High Contrast Elements" by Sharon Bradshaw
3rd - "Blosson Road" by Sharon Bradshaw
4th - "Rosebud Leaf Anomoly" by Kathleen Wilkinson
Beginner Color Projected Images
1st - "Morning Tizzy" by Jurgita Lukoseviciene
2nd - "Milky Way" by Jurgita Lukoseviciene
3rd - "Canyon Columbine" by Chris Mroz
4th - "Early Spring Rocky Mtn" by Jamie Zartman
Advanced Color Projected Images
1st – "Orange & Blue" by Steve Miller
2nd - "Rose Center" by Kathleen Wilkinson
3rd - "Dragonfly on Reed" by Sharon Bradshaw
4th - "Poppy Pods" by Sharon Bradshaw
Thunder Mountain Camera Club meets at 7 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of the month at the River of Life Alliance Church, 701 24-1/2 Road, Grand Junction. Visitors are welcome.


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The first time I've heard of Troncones was from a local taxi driver who was listing me his favorite spots close to Ixtapa to escape for a weekend. Something in his description caught my attention and made me long for a visit. And recently I got the chance to visit!
Troncones is a quiet beach village located just 20 miles north of Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo. The first thing that struck me was the picturesque landscape of hammocks and palm trees that seemed to capture the character of the area. Despite its beauty and closeness to Ixtapa, Troncones has surprisingly managed to escape massive tourism. This becomes obvious when you get exposed to some of "old Mexico." Chickens and donkeys roam the streets, and nights are quietly spent at home. The 3.1 miles of beach is speckled with a few homes, restaurants, eco-hostels, campgrounds and surf schools.
Troncones is considered an almost secret surf gem of the Mexican Pacific Coast. A local surf instructor told me that from June to October there are many breaks, which can hit up to 25 feet (7.6 m) at Troncones Point and El Rancho. Breaks in Troncones tend to be gentler in the "shoulder seasons" (spring and fall), and some spots are better suited to long boarders. Many hostels and surf shops offer surfing classes and surf board rentals, and I am already planning a future surf trip!
If you aren't into surfing, there are other things to explore along Toncones' waterway including two sea caves and a waterfall called Cascadas Artesianas, which were beautiful to see and experience.
I also enjoyed a lunch at El Burro Borracho (The Drunken Donkey), a local restaurant. Lunch was accompanied by a Mexican folk dance show, which takes place at the restaurant every Sunday! After lunch, I continued exploring the town and discovered a small church with beautiful artisan woodwork. It was great to experience authentic Mexico away from the hustle and bustle.
If you want to visit Troncones during your next stay, let your Capella Ixtapa Personal Assistant help you organize a visit!


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World Bank Pledges $50 Million for Water and Sanitation in Haiti
By Bryan Schaaf on Friday, October 10, 2014.
see more topics in:
The World Bank recently pledged $50 million for water and sanitation programs in Haiti. The funding will cover all clinics and schools in rural areas that are considered hot-spots for cholera. Haiti is one of a small number of countries in which sanitation deteriorated over the last twenty-five years. Investing in water and sanitation is essential for promoting public health. More information follows: Read more »
Drought in the Northeast Exacerbates Food Insecurity
By Bryan Schaaf on Thursday, March 20, 2014.
see more topics in:
The Haitian Government and the Famine Early Warning System (FEWS-NET) report that a drought is causing food insecurity in northeast Haiti due to the loss of crops and livestock. The National Coordination of Food Security Office and the World Food Program (WFP) are planning a response which will involve seed distribution to farmers and food distribution more broadly. Below is a Miami Herald article with more information. Read more »
Maire Chery, Haitian Nurse and Humanitarian, Dies at 59
By Bryan Schaaf on Thursday, March 13, 2014.
see more topics in:
Below is a Miami Herald article by Patrick Riley concerning the recent passing of Marie Chery. I was fortunate to be able to work with her as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Thomonde. Marie was a good nurse, a model humanitarian, a strong community leader, and an excellent human being. She died too early but, thanks to her, many more people have access to health care than they would otherwise. Marie will be missed. A good way to remember her would be through donations to organizations that support health care in Haiti. Read more »
Central America and the Caribbean Rally to Eliminate Malaria
By Bryan Schaaf on Friday, June 28, 2013.
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Ten Countries in the Caribbean and Central America, including Haiti, have launched a regional initiative to eliminate malaria by 2020. Both for public health and economic growth, eliminating malaria is in the interest of the entire region. This initiative is also a positive example of how very different countries can come together to address shared challenges. The Global Fund has committed to providing $10 million in support of the initiative. Click here to read about the Global Fund's support for HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria programming in Haiti. The full announcement follows. Read more »
Feeding Haiti (The Economist)
By Bryan Schaaf on Monday, June 24, 2013.
see more topics in:
Below is a brief article from the Economist on the relationship between food security and food imports. Both aid and trade policies have long subverted domestic agriculture in Haiti. President Martelly has set a target of meeting 60% of Haiti's food needs through domestic production within three years. This is a tough row to hoe as it requires better resource management, irrigation, reforestation, and natural disaster preparedness. Food security isn't just about rice though. Greater production of yams, sorghum, manioc, sweet potatos, and corn would help. Read more »
Haiti, DR to Launch Ten Year $2.2 Billion Plan to Eliminate Cholera
By Bryan Schaaf on Friday, November 30, 2012.
see more topics in:
According to Trenton Daniel and Martha Mendoza, a ten year $2.2 billion dollar plan to eliminate cholera in Haiti and the Dominican Republic will be released shortly. The plan will be government-led with support from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the WHO/Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). It is yet to be determined who will fund the plan and to what extent although the World Bank has indicated it will contribute. Although it will take years, eliminating cholera is neccesary both for protecting public health and promoting investment. Read more »
State-Of-The-Art Hospital Offers Hope For Haiti
By Bryan Schaaf on Friday, January 27, 2012.
see more topics in:
Below is a National Public Radio piece by Jason Beaubien on the status of the Mirebalais National Teaching Hospital, which will be Haiti's largest health care facility. The hospital is a priority for the Ministry of Health, which will be running the facility jointly with Partners in Health. Eventually, the Ministry of Health will manage the facility itself. When operational, the hospital will be mainly powered by solar energy. Internet connectivity opens the door to new training opportunities. In a recovery where much has gone wrong, the hospital is a symbol of what has gone right, and could be a model for replication in Haiti and elsewhere. Read more »
Making Nutrition a Sustainable Business in Haiti
By Bryan Schaaf on Wednesday, November 2, 2011.
see more topics in:
Plumpynut revolutionized the treatment of acutely malnourished children. In Haiti, Partners in Health (PIH) has produced a local variant, Nourimamba, since 2007. The Abbot pharmaceutical company is working closely with PIH to further improve Nourimamba and to expand production. The opening of a factory is scheduled for end 2012. This is good news for malnourished children, the health care providers who treat them, and the farmers who produce the ingredients for Nourimamba. An article by New York Times writer Duff Wilson on the PIH/Abbot partnership follows. Read more »
Haitian Health Partners Pledge to Improve Vaccination Coverage
By Bryan Schaaf on Saturday, October 29, 2011.
see more topics in:
Of all countries in the western hemisphere, Haiti lags furthest behind in vaccination coverage. However, there are reasons for hope. The Haitian Ministry of Health (MSPP), the World Health Organization (WHO), The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the GAVI Alliance, American Red Cross (ARC), and key countries such as the United States, Brazil, Cuba, and Canada have pledged to coordinate in expanding coverage, including the introduction of new and much-needed vaccines. The full press release follows. Read more »
International Action Update (7/15/2011)
By Bryan Schaaf on Friday, July 15, 2011.
see more topics in:
Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) conditions in Port-au-Prince were not good even before the devastating January 2010 earthquake. Perversely, the poor often paid the most for drinking water. Against this backdrop, a number of international organizations and non-governmental organizations are working with the Haitian government to help establish a more effective and equitable water system. One of these non governmental organizations, International Action, has been involved with water related issues in Haiti since 2006. Below is an update as to their latest activities. Read more »
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The VW Type 128 and 166 Schwimmwagen (literally Floating / Swimming Car) were amphibious four-wheel drive off-roaders, used extensively by the German Wehrmacht and the Waffen-SS during the Second World War. The Type 166 is the most numerous mass-produced amphibious car in history.
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By default, Excel displays only visible data in a chart. Consequently, if you hide worksheet data, Excel won't display that data in a chart. For instance, it's obvious from a quick look at the following chart's legend that Tuesday's data is missing: Most of the time, that's probably what you'll want. After all, if you went to the trouble to hide the data at the worksheet level, it's doubtful that you'll want to expose the data in a chart. However, it's easy enough to display the hidden data for those times when you do. To display hidden data in a chart, do the following:
- Select the chart.
- From the Tools menu, choose Options.
- Click the Chart tab.
- In the Active Chart section, clear the Plot Visible Cells Only Option.
- Click OK.
- Select the chart.
- Click the Design tab.
- Click Select Data in the Data group.
- Click the Hidden And Empty Cells button (at the bottom).
- Select the Show Data In Hidden Rows And Columns option.
- Click OK twice.
Full Bio
Susan Sales Harkins is an IT consultant, specializing in desktop solutions. Previously, she was editor in chief for The Cobb Group, the world's largest publisher of technical journals.


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by Stephenie Meyer
Twilight Chapter 3: Phenomenon Summary
How It All Goes Down
- The next day, it's snowing outside and the school parking lot is slippery. So slippery, in fact, that Tyler loses control of his van and starts sliding toward Bella:
[...] the dark blue van [...] was skidding, tires locked and squealing against the breaks, spinning wildly across the ice of the parking lot. It was going to hit the back corner of my truck, and I was standing between them. I didn't even have time to close my eyes. (3.15)
- Yet Edward Cullen somehow has time to dash across the school parking lot and push Bella out of the way.
Two long, white hands shot out protectively in front of me, and the van shuddered to a stop a foot from my face, the large hands fitting providentially into a deep dent in the side of the van's body. (3.17)
- Bella, Tyler, and Edward go to the hospital after the accident. Edward doesn't even have a bruise on his body, despite having stopped Tyler's van with his bare hands.
- Bella's doctor is Carlisle Cullen, Edward's adoptive father. After checking her over, he lets Bella leave.
- But Bella confronts Edward, wanting to know how he managed to save her:
"You think I lifted a van off you?" [Edward's] tone questioned my sanity, but it only made me more suspicious. It was like a perfectly delivered line by a skilled actor. [...] "Nobody will believe that, you know." His voice held an edge of derision now. (3.119, 121)
- Bella is furious, but gets nothing out him. However, that night, she dreams of Edward for the first time.


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Hildebrand Affair - Bad All Around 7 commentsJan 6, 2012 7:59 PM
Following up on Bruce Krasting's Kashya Hildebrand Speaks – Sinks Hubby?Hildebrand Affair - Bad All Around
By Ilene
Recall: Philipp Hildebrand, chief of the Swiss National Bank, denied wrongdoing on Thursday and claimed he had no intention of resigning over the trades. According to Mr. Hildebrand, his former currency trader wife wasn't aware of the Swiss central bank's plans. (SNB chief denies wrongdoing over dollar deals) As Frank Jordans reported,
...Philipp Hildebrand said had acted according to the central bank's internal rules in the U.S. dollar swaps, which came as he was spearheading efforts to lower the value of the Swiss franc.
"I am not aware of having committed any legal error," Hildebrand told reporters at the SNB's headquarters in Zurich. "But I understand that the public is also asking moral questions."
Hildebrand said he understood that the dollar deals totaling more than $2 million — some of which he said were conducted by his wife — could be misinterpreted and damage his reputation. But he insisted that he would stay on as president as long as he had the support of the SNB's board and Swiss authorities
Hildebrand told reporters Thursday that his wife wasn't aware that the central bank would two days later increase the liquidity of the franc, thereby lifting the value of the dollar.Full article: SNB chief denies wrongdoing over dollar deals | ajc.com.
Hildebrand insisted he did nothing wrong, but understands why his actions could be "misinterpreted." Apparently, the correct interpretation is that Hildebrand's wife knew nothing, and there should be no presumption otherwise.
The real take home message is a repeat - laws and rules of ethics only apply to some people.
Like who? The Sarasin bank's IT support employee for one. In discovering the trades, he violated Hildebrand's right to secretly conduct currency trades from his private account broke the laws of Switzerland. The people he gave the information to may have also broken the law. Hildebrand didn't let the travesty go unnoticed, and he "lashed out" at those who leaked details of his and/or his wife's trades. The employee who stole the information has been fired, and Hildebrand is consulting his attorneys about pursuing additional legal action. According to the NY Times:
While expressing regrets, Mr. Hildebrand portrayed the accusation of insider trading as the work of his enemies on the Swiss political right... "The personal attacks against me have reached the point where I had to defend myself," Mr. Hildebrand said.
An information technology worker at Bank Sarasin faces a criminal investigation for allegedly giving the information to the Swiss People's Party, whose most visible leader, Christoph Blocher, has been a bitter critic of Mr. Hildebrand...
Bank Sarasin said Tuesday that it had fired the employee, who had turned himself in to the police in Zurich. The charges carry a maximum sentence of three years in prison.
Exposure to criminal charges should have a chilling effect on anyone who has any thoughts of revealing insider trades from private bank accounts in the future. No worries, because according to the WSJ, "In his first public remarks since the affair broke in late December, Mr. Hildebrand disclosed proposals to increase transparency in financial transactions by top SNB officials." Good idea. Conflict between laws protecting privacy and laws against insider trading could be largely eliminated by real transparency.
More details from the WSJ (Swiss Banker Says He Won't Resign, Official Denies Advance Knowledge of Wife's Dollar Trade):
Mr. Hildebrand said he only learned of the purchase the day after it was made, but on Thursday said he wasn't "totally surprised," because Ms. Hildebrand had "talked about how low the dollar is and that we should buy more dollars....What I blame myself for is not either reversing the transaction or not telling her not to discuss this."... ["not telling her not to discuss this"??]
Meanwhile Thursday, Zurich's state prosecutor said it has opened a criminal investigation into a former Bank Sarasin & Cie AG employee who is alleged to have passed on Hildebrand family currency-transaction details to the Swiss People's Party, which has been highly critical of the central banker. The leak, which would be a breach of Swiss banking regulations, paved the way for the controversy last December.
While the SNB acts independently of government, its president is elected by the government's Cabinet members. The seven-member Cabinet can remove Mr. Hildebrand if requested to by the central bank's supervisory council. In "Swiss right presses central bank chief to resign," Frank Jordans reported,
Lawmaker Christoph Blocher has demanded a parliamentary inquiry into the whole affair.
The billionaire businessman, who first brought leaked statements of Hildebrand's dollar deals to the attention of the government, said he expected further questionable transactions to surface in a probe.
Without naming Blocher, Hildebrand told reporters Thursday that those now engaged in "attacks on me as an individual" were harming the interests of Switzerland...
Zurich prosecutors said Friday they have opened an investigation into a possible breach of banking secrecy by a former Sarasin employee.
The bank said Friday it was also seeking a criminal probe against those who encouraged the unnamed employee and received copies of Hildebrand's confidential documents. (Swiss right presses central bank chief to resign)
These events bring up many questions regarding not only the actions of Mr. Hildebrand and insider trading laws, but also regarding an individual's right to privacy and the public's interest in not discouraging bank employees from revealing private information when it involves potentially illegal activity. Bruce kindly answered my questions on the latter (answers italicized).
1) How far should a right of (bank account) privacy extend to protect public figures from exposure of questionable transactions? ZERO.
More generally, how should the right of privacy be balanced against the public's right to know of illegal and/or unethical activity? I think there should be full disclosure of financial transactions for elected officials and non elected ones in important positions.
2) What are the details of Sarasin bank's employee finding the trades? He was an IT guy. Not a senior person.
Did he break the law, break only bank regulations, or did he discover the trades through his normal activities? Totally, totally broke the laws of Switzerland. He turned himself into the police.
Would there be a criminal probe into the employee's conduct if he went straight to the police? Yes. He broke the laws of Switzerland (by getting the information in the first place).
3) What is the basis of the criminal probe directed at "those who encouraged the unnamed employee" to give them confidential documents?
This is the question of the hour. Which way was it?
a) An IT guys sees something. He understands what it is and makes a copy of it. Later (through an intermediary), he contacts Blocher who, in turn, takes it to Calmy Rey.
b) Blocher hires an intermediary and instructs him to get records of Hildebrand's accounts. So an IT guy regularly reviews the account looking for dirt. Bingo! one day he finds it.
I think it was a, the crime would be b.
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untrusting investor, contributorComments (9903) | + Follow Following - Unfollow
Initially, the questions were in black and the answers were in red so it was easy to see. But basically questions 1 and 2 had more than one part, and now that there's no red to make it clear, it's not. Is this better or is it still confusing? http://bit.ly/xdr4Xx
Your link worked and yes, the answers were not mixed with the questions as they are on this page. I am not trying to be a pain, just trying to help for your next post. In question 1 the word "activity?" is in the middle of the italicized answer. In question 2 "police?" is in the middle of the parenthetical part of the italicized answer.
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text:
Every January, Sydney celebrates summer in the city with three weeks packed full of performances, exhibitions and events. Attracting over 200,000 people to its first night alone, Sydney Festival is the top event on every Sydneysider's calendar.
With an extensive line-up of free shows, everyone has an opportunity to enjoy the festival. The festival kicks off on Saturday, January 7th with family-orientated entertainment that the kids will love. An eight-hour dance set begins at 3pm and huge light projections and street performers entertain the crowds until nightfall and the evening performances begin.
Some free festival standouts include:
First night – As the World Tipped. An aerial performance based on the world's eco-crisis that literally sees performers clinging on to a tipping 'world' for dear life.
First night – Picasso inspired music, film and performances at The Art Gallery of NSW.
First night – Get your jive on (and your retro threads) to join the swingers and rockabillies at Trocadero Dance Palace.
Jan 8 to 29 – A series of events and exhibitions exploring Sydney's Aboriginal culture at Carriageworks.
Jan 13 to 29 – Edge of Elsewhere. Works by contemporary artists from across Australia, Asia and the Pacific at Campbelltown Arts Centre and the 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art.
Jan 14 & Jan 21 – Make the most of the balmy nights with free concerts at The Domain.
Jan 26 – Australia Day promises a swathe of free entertainment around Sydney Harbour and it doesn't get more bizarre than the annual 'Ferrython', when dressed-up harbour ferries battle it out to be the first to the Harbour Bridge finish line.
For more information go to www.sydneyfestival.org.au
Planning a trip? Browse Viator's Sydney tours and things to do, Sydney attractions, and Sydney travel recommendations, or book a private tour guide in Sydney for a customized tour!


text:
Brewster star Smith signs with Nebraska
It wasn't easy for Chandler Smith to select a college to attend next year. But in the end, she's confident that she made the right pick for her future — on and off the basketball court.
Smith, the star Brewster basketball player, signed a letter of intent Sunday to play for Nebraska next year.


text:
The thing I love most about living in Southern California is the weather. The weather and the location - within a day you can be boarding at Big Bear and in the afternoon you can be blading on the beach. I didn't get to blading yesterday but I did hit the snow. The GPS is so small it fit in my jacket easily as did my little powershot making it a fun day of trying to board while taking some pics and a video or two.
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ACTIVE is the leader in online event registrations from 5k running races and marathons to softball leagues and local events. ACTIVE also makes it easy to learn and prepare for all the things you love to do with expert resources, training plans and fitness calculators.


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See who's on Catholic Mingle:
Iresh Catholic, employed with Marriott Suites for 22 years...Enjoys fishing, baseball: semi-pro first then pro... Sox over Cubs... Wo...
largemouthbass is a 42yr-old single man in Downers Grove, Illinois
Compassionate, loving, and understanding. I'm pretty laid back, but I'm open for anything and love a good time.
Kael_13 is a 33yr-old single man in Downers Grove, Illinois


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Osei Osei Vadlesi Vellipoke is an upcoming Telugu Movie. Its a dubbed version of Aayiram Muthangaludan Thenmozhi tamil film. Directed by Shamugaraj and Music composed by Taj Noor. Venkatesh and Akshara are in the lead roles.
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Knights of Columbus Tootsie Roll Drive HistoryTurning rolls of chewy chocolates into a financial boom for organizations that serve the mentally retarded is a wonderful story. These treats bring in nearly $2 million profit annually in Illinois – the home base for the creation of this giant fund raising process run by the Knights of Columbus.
Thirty years have passed since a group of three Knights from a Council in the Chicago area saw a need that was two way: organizations that served people with mental retardation needed money and the Knights of Columbus in Illinois needed a charitable mission to offer their members. The Knights knew that the Lions, the Shriners, the Elks and other fraternal organizations had members who reached out to the community with a determined focused project.
The men had no difficulty determining the target of their fund raising – the money would go to the mentally retarded because one of the group had a daughter who was mentally retarded and recognized that this category of people needed financial assistance. The process that they planned to use was not too difficult either: they would stand in public places with a receptacle and solicit donations for a token product.
However, the product took some thought. One idea was to distribute seed packets of Forget-Me-Not flowers which provided a good marketing slogan "For the retarded-forget me not". There were concerns however, that many people would not want seeds, would not use them and say no. The next thought was a Tootsie Roll, a well-established candy from a Chicago based company.
The three decided that the Tootsie Roll would be a good item to use because it was a well recognized item with a good shelf life. The next step was to pilot the program in their own K of C Council in Tinley Park. IL.
They picked a weekend, got men from their Council and got the candy from the Tootsie Roll Company. The men from the council stood at busy stores and intersections with a canister and Tootsie Rolls. They asked for a small donation from the shoppers and passer-bys, for each contribution handed out the candy. The first time collection was highly successful, raising over $30,000 for the two day-effort.
With that encouragement the council submitted a resolution to the state K of C convention to have the candy drive become a statewide program. The resolution was adopted unanimously. From that first drive in 1970 with receipts of $30,000, the Illinois councils have increased their annual profit to nearly two million annually.
The campaign has spread to other states when news of the success in Illinois was published in K of C magazines and newsletters. From the efforts of the one council in Tinley Park, IL the drive to raise funds for people with mental retardation has expanded to 44 states.
Our Council first participated in 1995 and since then we have raised $17,881.84. Last year we submitted $2,300.25.


text: This new video release features a group of life-long, professional Japanese Geisha playing traditional Japanese music together in Niigata in 2001. Such a performance like this one is very extremely rare these days in Japan. Check it out here:Japanese Geisha Band Music VideoCompletely filmed and edited by Rob Pongi. See more at www.RobPongi.comAsia Entertainment Online VideosRob Pongi Blog


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Ron Paul beats out all other Republican nominees for president in yesterday's Louisiana Caucus.
The unofficial results of over 10,000 individuals participating in the 2008 Louisiana Caucus are in and the winner is... RON PAUL !!! Garnering more votes than any other candidate, Ron Paul gathers a strong boost of momentum heading into the Florida and Super Tuesday primaries. This momentum comes atop another solid $2 million fundraising effort on Martin Luther King Jr. Day leaving Paul with enough money and support to challenge the more publicized front runners. Dr. Paul's platform can be viewed here:
Mitt Romney scored a respectable second place. John McCain, Mike Huckabee, and Rudy Guliani were unable to win a single delegate. A large number of voters were also uncommitted at this late stage in the process. The official press release of the Louisiana GOP office is quoted below:
On Tuesday night, approximately ten thousand Louisiana Republicans caucused in 11 different cities across the state. Those attending the caucuses cast their vote for 15 delegates and 15 alternates to represent their congressional district at the 2008 Louisiana Republican Convention. Results were tallied on site late into the night and then reported to Republican Party Headquarters in Baton Rouge. Of the thousands of ballots cast, approximately 650 were cast provisionally.
Before these provisional ballots are counted, LAGOP staff must verify that the voter was a registered Republican voter in his or her congressional district as of November 30, 2007. The counting of provisional ballots in the 3rd and 7th Congressional districts is not needed to verify the results as the margin of victory for all winning candidates is larger than the number of provisional ballots casts. For the other five Congressional districts, Republican Party staff members will begin the process of verifying the results through each parish's registrar of voter's office. Once that process is complete, the Secretary of the Republican of Louisiana will certify the official results.
Source: Nolan Chart
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By: Illuminated1234
In: News
Tags: Ron Paul, Huckabee, Mitt Romney, Hillary Clinton, Obama, Rudy Giuliani. John McCaim, Republican, Candidates, Election, CNN, Fox News, Debate Polls, Polls, President, race,
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