LANL-ALL1060: Lab implements restrictions in areas due to high fire danger

If you work at the lab, you've already seen this e-mail.  I wanted the rest 
of the members to have the opportunity to read it.

Marv Alme
President, LASC

>>Date: Wed, 19 Apr 2006 08:52:30 -0600
>>To: [email protected]
>>From: Public Affairs Office - LANL Notices <[email protected]>
>>Subject: LANL-ALL1060: Lab implements restrictions in areas due to high
>>  fire danger
>>
>>>Please note the following from the Emergency Operations Office:
>>
>>
>>>The Laboratory this week implemented work restrictions in forested or 
>>>undeveloped areas on Laboratory property because of continued drought 
>>>conditions and the potential for an extreme wild land fire season. Only 
>>>work that is mission essential, environment/safety/health and regulatory 
>>>essential, and forest fuels mitigation activities is allowed.
>>>
>>>Under the restrictions announced this week recreational activities such 
>>>as walking, jogging, hiking, biking and similar activities are 
>>>prohibited in all undeveloped areas except on asphalt roads and the 
>>>Wellness trail between the Wellness Center at Technical Area 3 and the 
>>>Los Alamos County Fire Station 5. (See Notice 0174 at 
>>>http://policies.lanl.gov/pods/policies.nsf/ByCollectionAlertsandNotices?OpenView&count=5000 
>>>Adobe Acrobat Reader required.)
>>>
>>>Forest fuels mitigation projects currently under way will continue to 
>>>protect both the Laboratory and the public from neighboring high-risk 
>>>lands in the event of an off-Lab wild land fire ignition.
>>>
>>>  Other provisions of the restrictions include the following:
>>>*Driving off established roadways will be restricted to mission 
>>>essential, environment, safety and health and regulatory essential, and 
>>>forest fuels mitigation activities;
>>>* All spark- and flame-producing activities conducted outside of 
>>>buildings or designated welding/cutting and hot work areas require 
>>>written permit approval from the worker's senior responsible line 
>>>manager and the [Laboratory] fire marshal or his designee;
>>>* Implementing a "Work Restriction Matrix" that limits activities based 
>>>on graduated fire danger ratings;
>>>* Adding approvals before operational burning activity is submitted for 
>>>Department of Energy authorization;
>>>*Requiring spark arrestors on portable generators used in undeveloped areas;
>>>*Limiting outdoor cooking activities to electric or gas-fired grills in 
>>>developed areas.
>>>
>>>  Lab managers should assess their areas of responsibility, both indoors 
>>> and outdoors, for accumulation of combustible materials or operations 
>>> that could pose a threat of fire, or create an unnecessary fire 
>>> exposure to facilities and operations. Suggested items to consider 
>>> include the following:
>>>*Remove trash, discarded combustible experimental materials, wooden 
>>>pallets and overgrown weeds, brush and trees in the vicinity of structures;
>>>* Keep grassy and landscaped areas maintained;
>>>*Properly store gas cans, diesel fuel for equipment and generators and 
>>>similar items;
>>>* Maintain access to facilities, e.g., fire roads, fire lanes and access 
>>>for emergency response vehicles should not be blocked or obstructed.
>>
>>--
>>Public Affairs Office
>>Los Alamos National Laboratory
>>P.O. Box 1663, Mail Stop C177