Lab Report Contributes
To Sierra Water Warning

Miller

A 2001 report by Berkeley Lab Earth Sciences researchers, led by Norm Miller, has been cited in a new report warning that global warming is threatening Sierra water supplies. The study, by the Sierra Nevada Alliance, says that snow elevation could rise by 500 feet in the next few decades and predicts temperature increases of 2.5 to 10.4 degrees during the next century. “Troubled Waters of the Sierra” utilized numerous studies by climatologists and researchers, including the Lab’s report, “Climate Change Sensitivity Study of California Hydrology.” Read the water study here, and the Reno Gazette-Journal’s summary here.

Increased Office of Science
Funding Gets Support

Several local U.S. Representatives joined in writing to the chair and ranking Democrat of the House's Energy and Water Development Appropriations Subcommittee in support of increased funding for DOE's Office of Science. More than 80 legislators, including the Bay Area’s Barbara Lee, George Miller, Zoe Lofgren, Mike Honda, and Anna Eshoo, signed the letter. An analysis by the American Institute of Physics of the status of Office of Science funding in Congress can be read here. The Senate and House are expected to complete the reconciliation of their versions of the Energy and Water appropriations bill soon.


U.S. Allots $9.7 Million
To Worker Illness Plan

Key congressional committees have authorized DOE to transfer $9.7 million to their Environment, Safety and Health workers compensation program. The additional funding will be used to expedite the processing of applications submitted to DOE under Part D of the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act, enacted by Congress in 2000. The DOE will invest the $9.7 million in both the field, collecting workers' records, and in the case processing operation, assembling cases for physician panels. Go here to read more about this transfer.