Announcements
RHONDA LANGE THANK YOU
I
sincerely thank all my friends and colleagues for the wonderful support me and
my family received during my husband's illness and passing. Your cards, e-mails,
phone calls, donations, flowers and attending his memorial service meant so
much and truly helped to comfort us. Your kindness and sympathy
throughout this difficult time is more appreciated than words can
express. Thank you so much.
Rhonda
Lange, Earth System Research Laboratory
UPCOMING DSRC CAFETERIA AND SHOWER/LOCKER ROOM
CLOSURES
Contractors
for GSA will begin work on a couple of projects in the near future that will
affect many of you. We apologize for the inconvenience.
First,
a substantial refurbishing of all of the tile in the
shower rooms in DSRC Garden Level/C (near the fitness center) will close them
to everyone. This work will involve all of the
tile in the showers and rest-room areas, so we must fully close them.
Work will commence next Tuesday, November 24, removing tile so that it can dry
out over the holiday weekend. Reconstruction will then begin on Monday
the November 30 and run through December 11. We apologize for the
inconvenience, and hope you'll stay fit by working out in the fitness room
which will remain open. Please remove any items from the lockers that you
will need during the construction period as there will be no locker room
access.
The
second project involves the DSRC’s Cornerstone Cafe. We are replacing
flooring and one of the grilles that secures the space at night. This
will take a full week and result in the closure of the cafeteria for the week
of November 30 (11/30-12/4). The cafeteria will re-open on Dec. 7. So, we
who are caffeine junkies will need to feed our habits another way. On
that note, so will the operator of the cafeteria, Willie, and his entire crew
(including Jada the wonder-dog). So please, in these days leading up to
the closure, and immediately after their re-opening, let's all make a concerted
effort to patronize his business to the greatest extent possible so that this
closure impacts Willie and crew to the least extent possible!!
THE DFEB UNITED WE SERVE AWARDS NOMINATION
DEADLINE: NOVEMBER 30
The
Denver Federal Executive Board established the United We Serve Awards to
recognize exemplary volunteer and community service by government employees in
Colorado. We are the first state in the nation to honor government
employees' contributions to their communities through the White House United We
Serve initiative. We have invited a representative from the White House
to present the awards at the 18th Annual MLK Unity Training on January 21,
2010.
We
are proud to be working with the Corporation for National and Community
Service, Governor's Commission on Community Service, Colorado Counties, and the
Colorado Municipal Leagues to recognize four outstanding government employees
within the State of Colorado. Nominations are open to government
employees at the city, county, state, and Federal levels. We need your
help in nominating worthy employees for this award. The nomination form
is attached and it is available on our web site at: http://www.denver.feb.gov/index.php?content=25&page=Award%20Programs
Please
contact the DFEB with questions. Contact Gay Page, page@denver.feb.gov
or call (303) 202 4588.
BATTERY DISPOSAL GUIDELINES
Under
environmental management guidelines in Executive Orders 13148, 13423 and 13514,
NIST and the DOC Labs are required to divert a considerable portion of the
waste produced onsite from municipal solid waste (trash cans and dumpsters) to
reuse or recycling. Presently, paper products and scrap metal are aggressively
recycled. The Office of Safety, Health and Environment (OSHE) is looking for
ways to improve recycling programs and contracts to include foam packaging
materials, plastics and aluminum cans.
Another
means of improving recycling programs is to improve the manner in which DOC
Labs personnel dispose of batteries, which are regulated as “universal waste”.
Materials classified as “universal waste” have characteristics of hazardous
waste, but are so commonly used that it is impractical to regulate them as
hazardous waste. Other materials regulated as “universal waste” include used
oil, electronics, fluorescent light tubes and some pesticides. Currently, OSHE
collects used batteries for recycling. This typically includes larger batteries
for electronic equipment and vehicles, but is being expanded to include
batteries, found in many common items including electronic equipment,
cell-phones, cameras, computers, and emergency backup lighting. In general,
nickel-cadmium, lithium, most button batteries and some alkaline batteries,
such as AA and 9-volt batteries and other types sold as consumer products.
It
is the goal of NIST to eventually place battery recycling containers throughout
buildings on site. Until that can be accomplished, OSHE requests that batteries
be disposed in the same manner as laboratory wastes. To dispose of batteries,
please follow these steps:
Place
electrical tape over each terminal of the battery.
Place
batteries in a box or other container labeled with a “Universal Waste” label.
Labels and plastic pails with screw top lids are available from OSHE for this
purpose. Batteries may be accumulated for up to six months unless signs of
leakage, damage or corrosion are present.
Submit
a waste disposal request to OSHE at:
http://www-i.boulder.nist.gov/safety/Hazardous%20Waste.htm
https://inside.boulder.doc.gov/haz-waste_env/haz_waste.html
If
batteries are leaking, damaged or corroded, submit a waste disposal request as
soon as possible.
If
you have any questions about battery disposal, please contact the Office of
Safety, Health and Environment at ext. 4577 or ext. 5516.
BOULDER LABS DIVERSITY COUNCIL DOCUMENTARY
PRESENTATION
The
Boulder Labs Diversity Council is offering two showings of the documentary
"Maya Lin: A Strong Clear Vision".
November
24, 12-1:30 p.m., DSRC GC402 (Multi-Purpose Room)
This
Academy Award winning documentary is a riveting and dramatic portrait about the
origins of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and its creator, Maya Lin. Renowned
filmmaker Frieda Lee Mock combines interviews and archival footage to chronicle
the inspiring story of Maya Lin, a 21-year-old Yale architecture student, whose
plan was selected from over 1,000 different designs, beating out some of the
most prestigious architecture firms from around the world. In Washington to
defend her design, Lin faced incredible opposition, challenging indignant
veterans and a hostile Congress to ultimately prevail with her emotional
"Wall". What began as one of the country's most bitterly disputed
public monuments, has become one of the world's most
inspirational and frequently visited memorials.
HR4U - NOTES FROM THE NIST HR OFFICE
THRIFT SAVINGS PLAN (TSP) CONTRIBUTION LIMIT
The
Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) maximum contribution limit will remain unchanged for
2010 at $16,500. Also, the 2010 TSP Catch-Up maximum contribution limit
will remain at $5,500.
"Catch-up
contributions" are supplemental tax-deferred employee contributions that
employees age 50 or older can make to the TSP beyond the maximum amount they
can contribute through regular contributions. In 2009, you may contribute up to
$5,500 in catch-up contributions.
Who
is eligible to make catch-up contributions?
To
be eligible to make catch-up contributions, you must be:
•
age 50 or older during the calendar year in which the
catch-up contributions are made (even if you become age 50 on December 31 of
that year);
•
currently employed and in pay status; and
•
making the maximum contribution to your TSP account.
You
must sign-up for the catch-up contribution to take effect, your election does
not automatically continue year after year. To sign up for Catch-Up
Contributions you must use the Self Service Option of Employee Personal Page
(EPP). To get to EPP go to: https://www.nfc.usda.gov/personal
if you need assistance please contact your assigned HR Assistant.
FEDERAL EMPLOYEES DENTAL AND VISION INSURANCE PROGRAM
(FEDVIP)
Are
you enrolled in the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program
(FEDVIP) and think you don't need FSAFEDS? Think again! These two benefits are
a match made in heaven!
FSAFEDS
allows you to set aside pre-tax dollars to reimburse you for eligible medical,
dental and vision care expenses. That includes other everyday expenses like
over-the-counter medicines, prescription drugs, medical supplies, and much
more! All you have to do is enroll in a FSAFEDS general purpose Health Care
Flexible Spending Account.
Still
not convinced? Did you know that eligible expenses also include your
co-payments, co-insurance, and deductibles from other insurance programs? This
means if you sign up for FEDVIP coverage and have co-payments, co-insurance, or
deductibles and you enroll in FSAFEDS, those expenses are eligible under your
FSAFEDS Health Care Account.
To
learn more, go to www.FSAFEDS.com.
Open
Season for enrolling in FSAFEDS (and FEDVIP and FEHB) is only a few days away.
Mark your calendar - The Federal Benefits Open Season runs from November 9
through December 14, 2009.
USE OR LOSE ANNUAL LEAVE
This
is to remind employees that the current leave year ends on January 2,
2010. Excess annual leave above an employee's applicable leave ceiling
(usually 240 hours) is called "use or lose" leave and is subject to
forfeiture at the end of the leave year. Employees who forfeit use or
lose annual leave because their services are necessary due to a national
emergency, exigency of the public business or sickness are entitled to have
their leave restored, but only if the leave was scheduled and approved in
writing by November 21, 2009.
Employees
with "use or lose" leave may donate excess annual leave to approved
recipients under NIST’s Leave Transfer Program. Leave donations made for
this purpose are limited to no more than the number of hours remaining in the
leave year for which an employee is scheduled to work (non-leave) and receive
pay. To find out who is on NIST's approved list please contact Matt
Wagers at ext. 4934 or Linda Rosales at ext. 6979. For NOAA's and NTIA's
leave recipients go to: http://www.wfm.noaa.gov/policies/leavedonor_participants.html.
NOAA GIFT SHOP MONTHLY SPECIAL
The NOAA Gift Shop’s monthly special for the NOAA Gift Shop’s monthly
special for November: $1 off for every $10 spent on electronics. Normal hours
are 12-1 p.m., Tuesday-Thursday. The shop is located in DSRC 1C307.
NIST GIFT SHOP
The NIST store is located under the lobby stairs
near the Building 1 cafeteria. If you would like to purchase any NIST
merchandise, please call ext. 5453, 3832, 3988, or 3378. See pictures of their
NIST t-shirts, hats, post cards, and more at the BLEA web site by clicking
"sales" - http://blea.doc.gov/
SITE HEALTH AND
FITNESS ITEMS
DAHN YOGA
Dahn
(Energy) Yoga is an exercise program made up of simple stretches that combine
breathing, motion and mind to activate the body's own amazing healing
power Develop your flexibility, release tension, improve concentration
and much more!
A typical class will comprise:
–
Deep stretching to open and release energy blockages throughout the body's
energy meridian system, creating optimal blood and energy circulation
throughout the body.
–
Relaxation and breathing exercises to help you release your daily stress and
tension, and accumulate vital life-force (Ki) energy.
–
Gentle and relaxing energy meditation to help build and circulate Ki energy
throughout your body.
–
Healing T'ai Chi, which comprises gentle but powerful movements that strengthen
muscles and joints, improves blood and energy circulation, correct skeletal
imbalances and improves focus, concentration and confidence.
Classes
are held Thursdays, 12-1 p.m., in the DSRC
Fitness Center.
Please
wear loose, comfortable clothing such as sweats and a t-shirt. Yoga mats
are not required.
Your
teacher is Joanne Edwards. She has been studying Dahn Yoga for five years
and is a certified Dahn instructor. If you would like to join the class,
please contact Joanne on ext. 6903 or by email at joanne.edwards@noaa.gov.
DSRC KARATE CLUB, BEGINNER CLASSES OFFERED
The
Karate Club invites anyone interested in defensive karate techniques to attend
beginner karate classes on November 2, 2009. Learn how to survive an
attack and you can teach your kids how to protect themselves!
Call
Mihail at ext. 6763 or email: Mihail.Codrescu@noaa.gov
for details.
TREAT YOURSELF TO HEALTH
The
Health Unit sponsors a “Most Excellent Massage Therapist”, every Wednesday, from
10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
$15.00
for 15 minutes
$20.00 for 20 minutes
$30.00 for 30 minutes
Come
on down for the best massage in town!
For
more information, call the Employee Health Unit, ext. 3801.
NEW EQUIPMENT IN BUILDING 1 WEIGHT ROOM
A
Life Fitness hip abduction/adduction machine has been added to the Weight Room
in Building 1. It works the inner and outer thighs with simple, intuitive
exercise movements. Range of motion adjustments, weight selection up to 160
lbs., and an adjustable, padded seat and back support allow comfortable use by
exercisers of all sizes. Try out this great addition to the weight room!
Employees who have already used it say it is great.
The
new stereo for the Building 1 cardio room is now installed. The system is equipped
with an IPOD docking station, AM/FM radio, auxiliary input for other audio
sources, and a CD/MP3 player. If you use the IPOD docking station, please
choose the sizing insert for your IPOD located next to the machine.
FITNESS CENTER MAILING LIST AND WEB SITE
If you want
to receive information on activities going on in the fitness centers, find
someone to work out with, have questions about the equipment, or want to talk
to others about fitness in general you should subscribe to the DOC Boulder
Laboratories Fit Center mailing list located on the web at: http://www.its.bldrdoc.gov/mailman/listinfo/fitcenter.
The Fitness Centers' website is found at https://inside.boulder.docgov/fitness/.
EMSS NEWS
Questions? Please call the below listed
contacts, call ext. 3191, or email: svcdesk@boulder.nist.gov
NIST EXCESS: The NIST Property Office has excess items available in
Building 4, if you are interested; please contact Dale Devoe, ext. 7598, or Eva
Baca, ext. 5083.
GSA EXCESS:
If we do not have what you are looking for, go to the GSA’s website: http://gsaxcess.gov/. You will need to
register; once that is complete; you will have access to excess property from
other Federal Government agencies.
PLANNED PROJECTS
Building 1
1.
EMSS staff will begin modifications to the 5th floor of Wing 5 in preparation
for the upcoming move of the Human Resources to this area. Work is all
concentrated at the North end and includes the construction of a new wall and
the relocation of a door. Work will be complete before November 16. Contact:
Fred Smith, ext. 4459.
2.
Wing 5, 1-3519 Area Labs: All work has been completed with the exception
of the new diffusers, which will be installed on the FCU's as soon as they
arrive. There should be no adverse affects to the scientific community.
Contact: Joe Carbone, ext. 3114.
3.
EMSS had a contractor begin installing new chilled water piping from the
corridor to room 3555. This work included drilling 2 holes in the
corridor wall. Work will be complete by, November 30. Contact: Bill
Seader, ext. 6314.
4.
EMSS is having “K Korp” perform annual preventive maintenance on fan coils in
the following areas: Building 1 Wing 5, Wing 6 and Spine 4. If you need,
or want to be present, when this maintenance is performed, please contact David
Stewart at ext. 7865 to schedule the maintenance in your office or lab.
Otherwise, the maintenance in the specified areas will begin November 12-30.
The contractor will turn off the fan coil to perform this maintenance. The
outage averages 10 to 20 minutes per unit so there will not be any heating or
cooling during this period.
5.
Wing 1 HVAC project is all but complete. Re-Installation of the duct detectors
will be complete today. Testing is scheduled for Friday evening November 20.
NTVI, Tami Holley, FDS, and staff from EMSS Alarms and Access are all on board
for the testing procedure. Contact: Joe Carbone, ext. 3114.
6.
EMSS will have Diamond Hills Services install portable fall protection railings
on the roof of Building 1, Wing 3 beginning November 11. Work is expect to take 30 days. This railing system will
provide increased safety for all personnel on the Wing 3 roof. Most of
the work will be done on the roof and no disruption of normal operations should
occur. Contact: John Delight at ext. 5776.
7.
EMSS has a contractor installing a new compressed air line from the main boiler
room to the clean room at the north end of Wing 1. This line will bring
air from the central utility plant to the clean room. This work is
scheduled to be done by December 4. Contact: Bill Seader, ext. 6314.
Building 1 Extension (B1E)
1.
Excavation & construction between Buildings 1 and 2 is continuing. Contact:
Bryan Faktor, ext. 7841.
Building 2
1.
The walkway at the gas dock area has been changed to an emergency exit only.
The North doors are signed as emergency exit only doors. This change will be
for the remainder of the time they are working on the new building. Contact:
Robert Gray, ext. 4936.
2.
Nathan Blair is working in the Facilities Engineering and Construction group of
EMSS and has been tasked to update the floor plans for all the NIST buildings
on site. He is also taking pictures and documenting all the electrical
panels and noting their location on the drawings. Nathan will need access
to each lab and office just for a few minutes to verify some
measurements. He will contact each of you and leave notes on doors as to
when he would be in the area so you are available. Nathan can be reached at
ext.4579 or Jim Boyd at ext. 3682.
3.
Building 2 East Entrance Renovations: The contractor is going to begin some of
the preliminary work for the construction of the new ADA ramp that is to be
installed at the east entrance to Building 2. For the immediate future,
only the existing east entrance will be available for access. Advance
notice will be posted for any upcoming closures. Contact: Joe Carbone at
ext. 3114.
4.
Re-installation of Existing Solar Lights: A contractor is going to begin
re-installing the old solar lights that were originally in the parking lot of
Building 2 before the construction of the new research facility began.
The solar lights are going to be re-installed along the new sidewalk along
Currie Circle, in front of Buildings 25 and 21. Please use caution in the
area. Contact: Joe Carbone, ext. 3114.
Buildings 8 & 12
1.
Project is all but complete. Waiting on Explosion Proof Smoke
Detector to be installed in Bldg 12. As soon as this is done and
tied into the system, we will have NTVI and Tami Holley do testing to make sure
we have a complete working system. EP Detector is scheduled to arrive week of
November 16 and will be installed ASAP and testing to follow. Contact:
Joe Carbone, ext. 3114.
Building 24 Exterior Lights
1.
The contractor is continuing with the installation of the new lights along
Compton Road (adjacent to the cemetery). The installation on the underground
conduit should be wrapping up this week. The contractor will then be
installing the concrete bases for the new lights. Please use caution in
the area. Contact: Joe Carbone, ext. 3114.
Site Wide (NIST)
1.
EMSS has begun preventative maintenance activities on the site transformers.
This work will continue thru December 2009. No unscheduled outages are
anticipated. Occasionally, the maintenance personnel will be wearing full
body covering protective suits, depending on which part of the electrical
system they are working on. Contact: John Delight, ext. 5776.
2.
Preventative maintenance activities have begun on the roof-mounted packaged air
conditioners (PAC) throughout the site. This work will be completed by
the end of this month. This will require a shutdown of each unit for a maximum
of 30 minutes. Room occupants will be notified in advance. Contact: Bill
Seader, ext. 6314.
3.
EMSS will continue installing fire-stop caulking in wall and floor
penetrations. This work is required by the National Fire Code to maintain the
integrity of firewalls. In the future, this sealing will continue from the room
side of the penetration. At that time, room occupants affected by this
work will be notified in advance that access is needed to their room. Contact:
Ron Richardson through the service desk at ext. 3191.
4.
EMSS will continue installing fuses in each light pole. This will better
protect this part of the exterior lighting system as it allows the other poles
on a circuit to operate if there is a fault in a single pole. We expect
this work to be complete by the end of November. Contact: Lanny Scarlett,
ext. 4466.
5.
Wilson/Lawrence Road closure has been rescheduled to take place November 11-25.
The B1E contractor will be closing a portion of Wilson Road along with the
Lawrence and Wilson road intersection. There will be short periods of
times when the Wing 4 & 6 docks will be closed for paving through that
area, but pedestrians will still have access by temporary reroutes. Vehicles
are advised to take Rayleigh Road to Compton, then around the North side of
Building 1 to access the South parking lot of Building 1. There will be a
temporary pedestrian walkway from the Skaggs Building around the construction
to Building 1.Once the Wilson and Lawrence Road construction is complete, the
B1E contractor will then close down a portion of Compton Road in order to place
the final layer of asphalt near Wing 5. At that time, vehicles will be directed
to take Wilson Road around the South side of Building 1 to access the North
Parking lot. This construction is scheduled to take place November 20.Contact:
Brian Burnham, ext. 4622 or Gary Herrli, ext. 4460.
6.
EMSS has Contractors starting their annual inspection of Fire Extinguishers on
October 12 thru January 2010. They will be checking status and condition of
Fire Extinguisher units. Contact: Raymond Farber, ext. 4191.
7.
Annual Fire Alarm systems Preventative Maintenance for the NIST Buildings only,
work is to continue thru February 2010. Contact: Raymond Farber, ext 4191, for
a current schedule.
8.
EMSS has a contractor testing and certifying backflow preventers throughout the
site. Work is scheduled to be complete by November 13. Contact Bill
Seader, ext. 6314.
9.
New Natural Gas Supply Service Line: The new gas line has been
installed. The only item remaining is the installation of the new gas
meter and regulator at the end of the pipe line. The contractor is
scheduled to begin the installation of the meter and regulator this week.
Please use caution in the area. Contact: Joe Carbone, ext. 3114.
WWV & WWVB
1.
Tower Strobes: Work is progressing on schedule. Conduit has been run on all
towers with the exception of the 2.5 mhz tower, which
is scheduled to be done last. The new fixtures are starting to arrive along
with all of the associated electrical hardware. As long as Mother Nature keeps
giving us nice days, the project will be completed mid December. Contact: Joe
Carbone, ext. 3114.