LLNL Statement Regarding the National Ignition Facility and Secretary of Energy Bill Richardson's Series of Actions

Business Wire, Sept 6, 1999

LIVERMORE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 3, 1999--

(Lawrence Livermore National Lab Director Bruce Tarter issued the

following statement today - in response to Secretary of Energy Bill

Richardson's news release regarding the National Ignition Facility)

"We share Secretary Richardson's concerns related to the National Ignition Facility and we will work closely with the Department of Energy to implement his directives. We will also work closely with the University of California on this issue.

"We strongly agree with his statement on the importance of NIF to national security and that the technical aspects of NIF are still very sound. We also agree that project management is extremely important.

"We have already taken the following actions:

1. The National Ignition Facility has been made an institutional

program reporting directly to my office. I have asked George

Miller, associate director for national security, to oversee the

day to day operations. Ed Moses has also been appointed the new

project manager for NIF.

2. Robert Kuckuck, deputy director of operations and George Miller

have been directed to conduct a thorough review to investigate

management actions related to NIF.

"The Lab is committed to all actions necessary to ensure the timely success of NIF for the DOE's Stockpile Stewardship Program." -- Bruce Tarter

Laboratory news releases and photos are also available electronically on the World Wide Web of the Internet at URL http://www.llnl.gov/PAO and on UC Newswire.