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Office of Science

William R. Wiley Environmental Molecular William R. Wiley Environmental Molecular Sciences LaboratorySciences Laboratory

BackgroundReviewsActions

U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science

Office of Biological & Environmental ResearchEnvironmental Remediation Sciences Division

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Office of Science

Environmental Remediation Sciences Environmental Remediation Sciences Division (~$90M)Division (~$90M)

Fundamental research for DOE environmental problems. Supports a research program and a national scientific user facility:

Environmental Remediation Sciences Program

$47.5M

Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL)

$39MThe William R. Wiley Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL), a U.S. Department of Energy national scientific user facility located at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) in Richland, Washington provides integrated experimental and computational resources for discovery and technological innovation in the environmental molecular sciences to support the needs of DOE and the nation.

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Office of Science

William R. Wiley Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory

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Office of Science

• EMSL Facilities– High Performance Mass

Spectrometry– Interfacial & Nanoscale

Science– Molecular Science Computing

Chemistry & Physics of Complex Systems

– Environmental Spectroscopy & Biogeochemistry

– High Field Magnetic Resonance

– Support

– Computer and Network Services

– Instrument Development Laboratory

– User Administration and Outreach

•

Expertise & Capabilities

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Office of Science

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

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Office of Science

DOE Management of EMSL

• PNSO holds the PNNL contract and provides an on-site management & oversight presence at PNNL:

– Contract management, program implementation, Federal stewardship

– Project, construction, contractual, and information management;

– Administrative and financial assistance and support;

– Environment, safety, health, and physical security oversight;

– Scientific, technical, and credentialed professional resources.

• BER/ERSD provides to EMSL:– Federal Direction and

Performance Oversight– Distribution of appropriated funds

for user facility operations and capital equipment

– Review of facility operations, management and science

• ERSD provides $33.5M operating and $5.5M capital equipment funds for EMSL in FY06

•BER & Pacific Northwest Site Office (PNSO) have integrated science & operations in the oversight & management of the EMSL national scientific user facility (200,000 ft2, 388 people) to meet the Office of Science management goals.

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Office of Science

May 2005 Review Findings

• May 17-19, 2005: BERAC & SC’s Office of Project Assessment (OPA) reviews evaluated EMSL mission, science, operations, future plans, and provided findings & recommendations for improvement.

• BERAC review of EMSL science found:– “The science conducted in the EMSL is of very high quality, and a

significant amount is, indeed, cutting edge. It is appropriate for BER to support this Laboratory that is a national resource.”

– Need for reinvigorated User & Scientific advisory committees• BERAC and OPA found:

– Lack of a shared vision for EMSL– Need for prioritization/decision making plan– Need for standardized user access protocol

• OPA found:– Need for enhanced managerial resources– Need for improved communications among all parties– Need for improved financial reporting systems– Need to understand the impact of non-BER funding within EMSL– Need for extensive benchmarking

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Office of Science

Addressing Review Findings

• BER, PNSO, PNNL/EMSL worked closely to address findings & recommendations from the reviews through an Action Plan:– Shared EMSL Mission Statement– Science Themes & Priorities – User Definition– Utilization Plan– UAC & SAC charter– User Proposal Review Criteria

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Office of Science

Addressing Review Findings

May 2005 Nov 2005 Dec 2005 Jan 2006 May 2006

EMSL Action Plan Completed: tools,

strategies, policies in place

Action Plan Implementat

ion Phase Started

EMSL Follow-on

Review

OPA & BERAC Reviews of

EMSL: May 17-19,

2005

Science Themes & Science

Priorities Completed

Sept 2006

Action Plan Implementati

on Phase Completed

EMSL Action Plan

Developed in Response to

Reviews

Continue BER-PNSO Management Plan for

EMSLYou are

here

EMSL Action Plan Status Review by

BER/PNSO Management Team

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Office of Science

DOE’s Lessons Learned

• Needed a structured management approach for EMSL– Strengthened relationship between HQ & Site Office– Weekly conference calls– Quarterly face-to-face briefings

• Review of EMSL “Dashboard” report– PNSO briefings (weekly informals, monthly formals)

• Programmatic rep – science and user service• Facilities rep. – infrastructure, EHS & operations

• Needed closer involvement with EMSL– “Deep dives” during June-November ’05 monthly visits– PNSO emphasis on EMSL oversight– Management team on-site update in November 2005

• Value Mapping exercise

• Proactive management vs. “manage by review”• Value of “Project Management”

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Office of Science

May 2006 Follow-on ReviewCommittee Charge

1. Does the EMSL Action Plan adequately address findings & recommendations of the May 2005 reviews?

2. Is EMSL implementation of the Action Plan on track for completion by the end of FY2006 (September)?

3. Will implementation of the Action Plan resolve findings & recommendations?