KENNEWICK — For the third straight year Battelle received high marks from the Department of Energy for its management of the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, earning 97% of possible incentive money.
The laboratory and its staff were praised for their compelling vision, high-quality science and technology, strong program management and excellent management and operations, PNNL told the Tri-City Herald.
The report card, which was made available on Wednesday, saw PNNL earn As and Bs in every category, which means they’ll be receiving $12.125 million of the maximum $12.5 million possible in incentive money.
Some of that money will be invested back into the Mid-Columbia through Battelle’s corporate contributes supporting STEM education, performing and visual arts and human services organizations.
PNNL employs about 5,000 scientists, engineers and other staff, with roughly 4,100 based in Richland, making it the Tri-Cities single largest employer.
The wide ranging appraisal evaluates PNNL and other laboratories on every aspect of operation, covering areas as varied as program management, leadership and security.
The Department of Energy’s Office of Science provided the appraisal, and had significant input into the evaluation.
Many other agencies and DOE offices that provide part of PNNL’s $1.24 billion funding also had input. Those agencies include the Department of Homeland Security, the National Institutes of Health and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Offices at DOE that sponsor research also were involved, including the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, the National Nuclear Security Administration, the Office of Electricity, the Office of Environmental Management and the Office of Nuclear Energy.
PNNL’s research strengths include chemistry, earth sciences and data. Among projects are understanding climate change, modernizing the U.S. electric power grid and safeguarding ports worldwide from nuclear smuggling.
Roger Snyder, the site manager for the DOE Pacific Northwest Site Office, said that Fiscal Year 2021 was a challenging year, but Battelle managed very well overall.
“(Fiscal Year) 21 saw continued growth of the laboratory and an uptick in the number of active projects at PNNL, with the continuing challenges of operating and meeting mission during the pandemic,” Snyder said. “Battelle has been a great partner in working with DOE and the bevy of sponsors that come to the lab for basic science and applied research.
Snyder said his office looks forward to continued growth of the laboratory in fiscal year 2022 and working with Battelle in operation of PNNL.
In an e-mail to staff, PNNL Director Steve Ashby praised workers for their hard work, dedication and passion.
“The impact of contributions across our mission areas was noted by multiple sponsors,” he said, going on to summarize the praise for the lab’s numerous areas of research, including science, energy and environment, Hanford cleanup, national security and homeland security.
Ashby said PNNL continues to be one of the best managed national labs in the DOE system, and commended staff for their focus on safety and operational resiliency, despite the challenges of the pandemic.
The report card
The report card is broken down in three categories with individual goals. These goals are not weighted equally, with the Science and Technology goals carrying the most weight.
Science & Technology Goals:
- Goal 1: Mission Accomplishment (Quality and Productivity of R&D) — A
- Goal 2: Design, Fabrication, Construction and Operations of Research Facilities — B
- Goal 3: Science & Technology Program Management — A
Leadership/Stewardship:
- Goal 4: Leadership/Stewardship — A-minus
Management & Operations:
- Goal 5: Environment, Safety & Health and Environmental Management — B-plus
- Goal 6: Business Systems — B-plus
- Goal 7: Infrastructure — A-minus
- Goal 8: Safeguards/Security A-minus
