[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 80 (Tuesday, June 10, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5465-S5466]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                    HONORING ARGONNE-WEST SCIENTISTS

 Mr. KEMPTHORNE. Mr. President, I rise today to give 
recognition to four very important individuals involved in the 
advancement of engineering and science relating to nuclear activities 
for our country, and specifically within the State of Idaho. I would 
like to commend Douglas C. Crawford, H. Peter Planchon, John I. Sackett 
and Bobby R. Seidel on their various efforts in this area which have 
warranted top awards from the American Nuclear Society.
  These four scientists, all employees of the Argonne National 
Laboratory-West, have made tremendous advances in terms of the science 
involving the safe generation of nuclear power. For example, Dr. 
Douglas Crawford was awarded the Young Member Engineering Achievement 
Award which recognizes a series of experiments on reactor fuels. Dr. 
Crawford has become a widely recognized expert in the handling, 
management, and treatment of plutonium. He is also the manager of the 
Engineering Division's Materials Technology Section at Argonne-West.
  Dr. H. Peter Planchon, who serves as an Associate Director of the 
Engineering Division, received the American Nuclear Society's Seaborg 
Medal which is awarded for outstanding long-term individual excellence 
in nuclear investigation and study. Dr. Planchon developed reactor 
modeling and experiments which have led to the use of passive response 
to accidents in sodium-cooled reactors. His work and efforts were 
demonstrated in a 1986 experiment in which Experimental Breeder 
Reactor--II, at the time operating at full power, was exposed to 
accident conditions. The reactor safely shut itself down without 
operator intervention. Thanks to Dr. Planchon's efforts, subsequent 
tests have shown that simplified nuclear plants could be safely 
designed for the future.
  Dr. John Sackett's contributions to fast reactor technology, 
resulting in new and better approaches to plant protection and safety, 
have earned him great recognition and the honor of receiving the Walker 
Cisler Medal. This medal is a special award which recognizes 
outstanding scientific or engineering research achievements in the 
design and development of the fast breeder reactor as applied to 
electric power generation. Dr. Sackett's efforts truly are outstanding 
scientific achievements which have led to better plant operation. He 
currently serves as the Deputy Associate Laboratory Director for 
Argonne-West.
  And finally, the American Nuclear Society's Public Communications

[[Page S5466]]

Award was given to Dr. Bobby Seidel for his exceptional service in 
communicating unbiased facts regarding nuclear power to the public, 
which, as you know, Mr. President, is not always an easy task. Dr. 
Seidel directs the student and faculty programs at Argonne-West and was 
the propelling strength behind the planning and construction of the 
nuclear energy display for the Idaho Falls-Bonneville County Museum. 
This is a particularly important exhibition of nuclear technology for 
the people of the Idaho Falls area because so many times a hands-on 
look at how this process works is a much more effective means of 
education, rather than merely reading about such technology in a 
pamphlet or newspaper.
  The American Nuclear Society is a nonprofit, international agency 
comprised of individuals who represent more the 1,600 corporations, 
educational organizations, and Government agencies. These people, most 
of whom are engineers, scientists, educators, and students, have 
created an astounding membership number of over 17,000. Each year, the 
society chooses the top contributors to the institutes of nuclear 
science and engineering, and recognizes them with distinctive awards, 
specific to their fields of work. I am proud to know that this year a 
few of these awards were given to four outstanding Idaho citizens.
  Again, Mr. President, I would like to commend these gentlemen on 
their accomplishments and contributions to the nuclear scientific and 
engineering community. These individuals are a valuable asset not only 
to Argonne-West, but to all of us who rely on nuclear power as an 
inexpensive, renewable, and reliable source of energy.

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