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May 7, 2012

Bulletin #149: Reception & open house this Friday May 11th, 3 – 5 pm, for Mika Armenta, departing Study Group intern

Dear friends –

We’re going to skip any serious issue update for the sake of an invitation.   

The University of New Mexico’s (UNM’s) spring semester is coming to a close this week, which means our short time with our outstanding student intern Mika Armenta is also ending, at least for now.  This Friday will be Mika's last day and we would like to invite you to come by between 3 and 5 pm for tea and refreshments in her honor here at the Study Group “world headquarters” in Albuquerque (2901 Summit Place NE).  Mika has been remarkably productive this semester – a very competent and efficient assistant in all aspects of her work for us.  Please come – meet Mika, share a cup of tea with your friends, and wish her well. 

A quick update on litigation concerning NNSA’s “plutonium sustainment” program

This Wednesday May 9th, attorneys for the Study Group and for the Department of Energy (DOE) and National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), will be presenting arguments before a panel of judges in the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver.  The appeal has been fully briefed (this is our last brief in that appeal).  We will publish the court’s decision when we know it. 

As you all know if you have been reading our bulletins this year, NNSA has chosen to implement undescribed alternatives to its Chemistry and Metallurgy Research Replacement Nuclear Facility (CMRR-NF).  We applaud the shift toward using existing and modified facilities but of course there is no analysis, as there must be, of these new alternatives under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).  NNSA’s plutonium pit program has simply morphed from one unanalyzed alternative (CMRR-NF) to others – including CMRR-NF or an even larger facility later.  Meanwhile NNSA continues to pour millions of dollars into CMRR-NF.

That’s all for now.  We are looking forward to seeing many of you this coming Friday, May 11th!

Greg and Trish

P.S. In celebration of the Study Group 20th anniversary we have been having a series of small gatherings that unfortunately can’t include everyone at once.  We will be have an anniversary celebration at a larger venue a little bit later in the summer and will invite ALL of you.  Watch your bulletins!