Minutes of the October 13 2001 Meeting of the Fermilab Users Executive Committee (UEC) Attendees: John Conway(conway@fnal.gov) Robin Erbacher(robine@fnal.gov) Joey Huston(huston@pa.msu.edu) Sally Koutsoliotas(koutslts@bucknell.edu) Larry Nodulman(ljn@fnal.gov) Rob Plunkett(plunk@fnal.gov) Rick St. Denis(stdenis@fnal.gov) Benn Tannenbaum(benn@physics.ucla.edu) Gordon Watts(gwatts@fnal.gov) Wendy Taylor{wendyt@fnal.gov) Chris White(cwhite@fnal.gov) Heather Ray (GSA) Absent: Roger Rusack(rusack@hep.umn.edu) (cameo appearance) Sherry Towers(smjt@fnal.go) Guest Mike Witherell Benn called the meeting to order at 10:00 AM. Benn quickly went through his presentation Oct 12 for the BOO. He expressed gratitude for the D0 and CDF office buildings, now opening. He mentioned quickly renewing Congressional contacts for those who have developed relationships, with the message the value of research and DOE Office of Science funding. A continuing issue is hosting foreigners, visas, housing, transport. We also should be reacting to the spring town meeting suggestions. There were meetings with UEC and SLUO participation at Snowmass; Robin will report on this next meeting. The mailing list (e-mail) still has problems and Robin is working on it. Committee Assignments Washington Trip Chair: Joey Huston Conway, Erbacher, Rusack, White Users Meeting Chair: Robin Erbacher Conway, Huston, Koutsoliotas, Plunkett, White Inreach Chair: Rick StDenis Deputy: Rob Plunkett Erbacher, Koutsoliotas, Taylor, Kirby, Ray, Sorrel Quality of Life Chair: Wendy Taylor Conway, Huston, Nodulman, Towers, Kirby, Ray, Sorrel Immediate assignment: get up a survey on user needs Outreach Chair: Sally Koutsoliotas Huston, Nodulman, StDenis, White, Kirby Other assignments: Webmaster: Gordon Watts Default Minute Taker: Larry Nodulman Discussion with Mike Witherell Security: The rules were clarified yesterday that we need to be wearing badges (all tier 3 labs). A site plan is being developed to call out where on site that badges will be required, but until this is worked out - everywhere except in houses. There may be card read entry for property protect areas, CDF, D0, MCR, Feynman. Trailers? Wilson Hall? Mike is attempting to tie such security measures to the security level. Security levels range from SECON 5 to 1 where 1 is immediate threat to the site. We are now at SECON 2. No level at all is normal. Mike was recently in Washington DC meeting with DOE lab directors and DOE Undersecretaries Bob Card and General Gordon. It is clear that the sense of need for security measures is intense and pervasively personal in DC. The arts and lecture series are continuing with security as demonstrated, but other things such as the film series are not. The main concern of the lab is protecting people at work. Budget: Mike had been scheduled to meet with Energy and Water subcommittee clerks, but that got canceled because they were busy getting ready for the conference committee to meet Tuesday (Oct 16). Current funding is by a continuing resolution through October 16. The stimulus package is not expected to raise spending levels, so the conference result will likely be bracketed by the House and Senate versions, with the Senate higher by 100 M$ for Office of Science including 9 M$ for HEP. The '03 outlook is not so good either. When M. Dresselhouse was heading the Office of Science, prospects seem good that funding would turn around but now expectations are lower. The Hart/Rudman report is out, the first chapter is on homeland security; that gets lots of attention. The second chapter is on science, technology and education; hopefully it will be noticed eventually? See http://www.nssg.gov/phaseIII.pdf HEPAP will meet October 28/29 for reccomendations, the report may be delayed so that it might get some attention. If, as discussed at the previous UEC meeting, the expected funding level has impact on the level of support for accelerator R&D, there would be some impact on prospects for landing the next machine. Misc.: The LHC cost, for the accelerator, magnets and construction and other items, was apparently underestimated by about half a billion dollars. The CERN director proposed more loans but this was not well received. A resolution, with schedule implications is not yet clear. Fermilab plans are still based on the LHC physics program starting toward the end of '07. Collider luminosity is disappointing. The problems are getting lots of attention, organizing the effort. There are still some positions open in beams division, several positions have been filled but other people have left. We thanked Mike once again! Outreach Discussion Rick has been in contact with Bruce Chrisman. Tours as we had been doing are not possible under current security conditions. There are still some tours for students. Various outreach strategieswere discussed; we will be inviting various groups involved with outreach efforts to discuss them with us to see if we can help out somehow. GSA Report Heather reported that GSA is organizing itself, adopting bylaws and election rules. Inreach Discussion Rob questioned whether the seminar series have any impact on young people in the trailers. Message boards are being put in the high rise, perhaps they could be put in the new buildings? [Rob, anything to add?] John asked if there was interest in a cooperative particle physics course every few years. There is a Rochester TV course (Heather is sitting in). Perhaps this could be expanded? Next UEC meeting will be November 10.