Update on Spallation Neutron Source
David E. Moncton has been named the new Project Director of the Spallation Neutron Source at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. In making this announcement, DOE Office of Science Director Martha Krebs also reported on the results of recent internal and external reviews of the project. She said DOE is “on track for delivering this unique facility to the scientific community in 2005.”
The Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) is a $1.36 billion accelerator-based neutron source with proton beam power greater than 1 Megawatt. It is being constructed by five national laboratories, with Oak Ridge (ORNL) “as the preferred site.” Design flexibility will allow an upgrade of beam power at a later date. The SNS is to operate at least 240 days per year.
An ORNL statement notes that “Moncton’s career has spanned areas of fundamental research to major facility construction. His early work included using both synchrotron and neutron sources for research and development. He has had extensive industrial experience at AT&T Bell Laboratories and Exxon Research Corporation. His most recent and relevant experience was at ANL where he led the team that completed the Advanced Photon Source.” Moncton, Krebs said, “brought in the APS slightly under its original 1987 cost estimate.”
Last month, the Office of Science performed a construction management review of the project’s technical, cost, schedule, and management parameters. This examination found that the project had substantially met the requirements of a 1998 in-house review. The January review’s major recommendation was for a different management approach. Committee members praised the contributions of ORNL Associate Laboratory Director Bill Appleton, who Krebs said “succeeded at building a strong base of support for the project and bringing it to the threshold of construction.”Moncton accepted the new position on February 19.
Recent legislation requires external reviews of DOE projects of this magnitude. This review was performed, making basically the same recommendations.
The next step in this process is a month-long evaluation of the project. Moncton will lead a team of DOE laboratory experts in evaluating “human resources, technical/cost/schedule baselines, project management systems, business management system, and physical assets.”Moncton is to present a plan in April leading to a cost and schedule baseline review by July 1999.
Congress provided $130 million this year for the SNS and its permission to begin some design and construction activities. (The original request was $157 million; the House bill would have only provided $100 million “due to severe budget constraints.” The Senate version of the bill would have funded the request in full. The final bill essentially split the difference.) This year, the request is $214 million for FY 2000. Hearings will be held in the next few months by both the House and Senate Energy and Water Development Appropriations Subcommittees. Take note that the House subcommittee chairman, Ron Packard (R-CA), is new to both his chairmanship and to this subcommittee.
