HEALTH & SAFETY
DOE sites respond to COVID-19 with various safety measures
ECA Staff | 4/16/2020
Across the complex, DOE sites have altered operations and implemented new protocols to ensure the safety of workers and the community while continuing important missions. Most sites have reduced staffing levels on-site to only allow mission-essential employees in facilities, and some of those sites have announced more specific measures related to travel, teleworking, and cleaning facilities.
Last month, DOE headquarters established a task force that will “coordinate the resources to study coronavirus and other public health issues that are available at the 17 DOE national laboratories.” Dr. Chris Fall, Director of the Office of Science, highlighted various ways DOE is using its resources to address COVID-19, including the use of supercomputers for modeling and
analysis of the virus and its spread. The Department has even asked scientists to submit ideas for how DOE can use its tools to research COVID-19.
Hanford transitioned to a “mission-critical operations posture” on March 24. Site manager Brian Vance issued a message to all Hanford employees that operations would be evaluated based on national security, safety, and regulatory needs. Mission Support Alliance, a Hanford contractor, also issued a guidance regarding cybersecurity for the many employees who have begun teleworking.
Idaho National Laboratory announced a “minimum-safe plus” status on March 26, which requires that only select mission critical employees will continue working at on-site facilities. Additional measures include requesting other employees to telecommute and requiring INL staff returning from travel outside the state to self-quarantine for 14 days.
At Los Alamos National Laboratory, most employees are working remotely, but a limited number of mission-essential staff for the NNSA and EM activities remain on-site. LANL director Thom Mason highlighted that the laboratory is using its history in biological sciences for “disease detection and diagnostics, epidemic modeling, disease prediction and forecasting, decision support, data
collection and integration, and medical measures.”
Oak Ridge National Laboratory has also issued an advisory encouraging employees to work from home if possible and limiting access to ORNL facilities. With two-thirds of its workers now off-site, ORNL is “providing remote access to its world-leading supercomputing and neutron facilities” to conduct studies to combat COVID-19.
According to the Exchange Monitor, “all but the most basic operations” at Paducah and Portsmouth have been suspended, although further details on their status is not publicly available. At the Nevada National Security Site, safety measures have been implemented, including cancelation tours and other events.
Savannah River Site is continuing “essential mission critical operations, with fewer than 2,500 employees on Site, with a large population of the remaining workforce teleworking.” There are several other safety measures that have been implemented, including chemical cleaning of workspaces; temperature checks for employees; and no touch badge checks.
At West Valley Demonstration Project, on-site staff has been reduced to a mission-essential level, allowing off-site staff to telework in order to implement social distancing. Additionally, the site has implemented new security measures for public meetings held at the
Ashford Office Complex.
The amount of waste received at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant has decreased in recent months in response to the outbreak, as the site implemented a “ramp down” of activities. In March, WIPP received four shipments, after receiving 10 shipments in February and 24 shipments in January.
While COVID-19 presents significant challenges in the normal operations of the sites and DOE headquarters, communication about health and safety matters between the Department, contractors, local governments and their communities is as important as ever. Engagement between federal and local officials remains the best way to accomplish DOE missions safely.
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Guidance for using DOE’s Clauses developed to implement Section 3610 of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act
U.S. Department of Energy | 4/15/2020
This Flash provides guidance to Contracting Officers regarding implementing Section 3610 of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) Act in contracts. It provides additional guidance to Contracting
Officers to that provided in Policy Flash 2020-18 “Initial Guidance Regarding Actions to Address Effect of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)” issued on March 13, 2020.
Section 3610 of the CARES Act gives agencies the authority to modify the terms and conditions of a contract, or other agreement, without consideration. The guidance in this Flash was formulated, consistent with the requirements of both Section 3610 and draft OMB guidance, for contracts. This does not preclude application of Section 3610 to other agreements. Determinations regarding the application of Section 3610 to other agreements may be made on a case-by-case basis in consultation with
cognizant program officials and legal counsel.
There are two attachments: 1) guidance to Contracting Officers on implementation of the CARES Act; and 2) clauses that may be used in cost reimbursement-type contracts and in fixed-price/time-and-materials type contracts.
Read about DOE's High Level Waste Interpretation
Have questions about DOE’s recent high-level waste (HLW) interpretation? Download ECA’s Key Points and FAQs on the issue to better understand what ECA believes are the potential benefits of implementation.
Interested in learning more? Read the ECA report “Making Informed Decisions on DOE's Proposed High Level Waste Definition” at www.energyca.org/publications
Stay Current on Activities in the DOE World
Read the latest edition of the ECA Bulletin, a regular newsletter providing a detailed brief of ECA activities, legislative news, and major events from across the DOE complex. Have suggestions for future editions? Email bulletin@energyca.org.
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Learn More about Cleanup Sites with ECA's DOE Site Profiles
ECA's new site profiles detail DOE's 13 active Environmental Management cleanup sites and national laboratories, highlighting their history, missions, and priorities. The profiles are a key source for media, stakeholders, and the public to learn more about DOE site activities, contractors, advisory boards, and their surrounding local
governments.
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