Laboratory seeks local citizens for board to begin operations in January 2010
Nomination forms are now available at www.fnal.gov/pub/neighbors/CAB/ or by calling (630) 840-3351. Nomination deadline is Dec. 7, 2009.
Batavia, Ill.—Officials at the Department of Energy’s Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory are seeking nominations from the local community for members to serve on a new Community Advisory Board. The new board will provide an opportunity for local citizens to participate in planning and developing the laboratory’s future.
“Over the past five years, Fermilab has worked with two highly successful citizens’ task forces,” said laboratory Director Pier Oddone. “The work of our neighbors shaped Fermilab’s approach to public participation and gave us invaluable input into community-related aspects of constructing scientific projects. We want to continue this working relationship with the local community as we plan for Fermilab’s future.”
Sometime after the Large Hadron Collider comes on line in 2010 at CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research in Geneva, Switzerland, Fermilab’s Tevatron accelerator will cease operation. However, through multiple and diverse new projects, Fermilab will continue to play a world-leading scientific role with research at the energy, intensity and cosmic frontiers of particle physics. Fermilab will remain a large local employer and a strong contributor to the local economy.
Some of the proposed new projects will require construction, including additional tunneling beneath the Fermilab site. Public access to the site, environmental management, economic impact and other issues will continue to warrant a strong community relationship. The new Fermilab Community Advisory Board will focus on future plans and activities.
“Fermilab’s future is closely related to the future of surrounding communities,” Oddone said. “Meaningful and sustained community input will be essential as Fermilab plans, develops and implements future projects.”
A new community advisory board, now being formed, will help to identify public issues and will provide ongoing advice and guidance related to the future of Fermilab. Specific activities will include:
- Comment and feedback on proposed new projects
- Review of proposed construction activities for new projects; insight on potential community concerns and advice on how to best mitigate any impacts
- Discussion of how changes at Fermilab are likely to affect surrounding communities; and guidance and insight on how best to integrate new activities at Fermilab with local communities
- Liaison with local organizations and communities
- Ongoing input and advice on implementing Fermilab’s public participation program
Fermilab seeks nomination of potential members.
As with previous Fermilab citizens’ groups, membership of the FCAB will be composed of approximately 20 local residents representing a wide range of interests and viewpoints. Community members are invited to nominate themselves or others. Nomination forms and a fact sheet explaining expectations for members are available at www.fnal.gov/pub/neighbors/CAB/ or by calling (630) 840-3351.
All nominations are due to Fermilab no later than Monday, Dec. 7, 2009. Specific instructions are included on the forms themselves.
Members will be selected by panel of community leaders. A selection committee of past Community Task Force members will review all nominations and identify a board that best represents the broad range of community interests and meets the needs of the community and the laboratory. The selection committee will have the authority to seek additional candidates for interests that are not adequately represented by the nominations received.
For more information, please visit www.fnal.gov/pub/neighbors/CAB/ or call the Fermilab Office of Communication at (630)840-4112.