DOE Releases National
Lab Report Cards

The Department of Energy’s Office of Science has released the national laboratory performance report cards for FY07. Based on the scores that Berkeley Lab received, a three-year extension of our contract with UC is expected. The Lab’s contract features an “award term” provision intended to provide incentives for meeting or exceeding the performance expectations stated in the annual Performance Management and Evaluation Plan. Under those provisions DOE may recognize such performances through phased extensions of the contract for up to a total of 20 years. For FY07, the Lab received a grade of A for the categories of Mission Accomplishment and Security and Emergency Management, and no less than a B+ in any of the other six categories. See the February issue of The View for more information, or visit DOE’s Performance Appraisal Process website.

Hazardous Waste Facility
Gets Clean Bill of Health

Berkeley Lab’s Hazardous Waste Handling Facility, in Building 85, received no violations of hazardous waste regulations, according to an inspection report issued this week by California’s Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC). The inspection report is the culmination of a three-day annual review conducted last fall, in which DTSC personnel inspected the facility, inventory, waste shipment and analysis records, inspection and training records, and additional records. The report reflects the hard work of the Waste Management Group in maintaining the Hazardous Waste Handling Facility in compliance with myriad environmental regulations and the efforts of the waste generators in properly characterizing their wastes. The inspection report will soon be available on the DTSC website.

Improve Leadership,
Motivational Skills

To assist employees in developing the skills to lead and motivate others, the Berkeley Lab Institute is sponsoring a course for scientific and engineering managers, supervisors and work leads on "Fundamentals of Leading and Motivating People." This two-day course will be offered four times this year. Go here for more information on the course and a link to register.

‘Greengenes’ Detects
Bacteria in Alfalfa

Consumer illness from produce has risen over recent decades. For example, eating raw alfalfa allows any bacteria living on the produce to be orally introduced. In a recent UC Berkeley study, several bacterial families, including human pathogens, were found in retail-purchased sprouts. The sprouts were analyzed using the Greengenes online database, developed by the Ecology Department in Berkeley Lab’s Earth Sciences Division. The bacterial families detected were similar to those in wastewater, suggesting farming practices should be evaluated to minimize the spread pathogenic bacteria. The Greengenes site provides current and comprehensive 16S rRNA gene sequence alignment for browsing, BLASTing, probing, and downloading.

Chu Part of National
Debate on Environment

Director Steve Chu joined representatives from campuses and agencies across the nation last Thursday for a forum to discuss the global climate crisis and to demand swift action from policymakers, including — and perhaps especially — those at the federal level. The daylong "Focus the Nation" event brought together hundreds of listeners at International House to hear and question panelists including staff and faculty experts. Go here to read a UC Berkeley article on the proceedings.

Call, E-Mail Cal Dining
For Catering Orders

Cal Dining, the Lab’s new cafeteria service, is in the process of developing a website that will include catering forms and instructions.  Until that is completed, staff who need to place catering orders can send their printed Conference Services approval forms to Victoria Fassano (MS 054) or e-mail them here.