FOUNDING THE 15TH NATIONAL LABORATORY

OF THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

In 1997, I was a member of the Institutional Strategic Planning Team that created the 15th National Laboratory of the United States, the USDOE National Energy Technology Laboratory.  In the early 1990’s, Senator Robert Byrd (D-WV) was planning to close the DOE Pittsburgh Energy Technology Center and move the work to the DOE Morgantown Energy Technology Center in WV.  Senator Byrd, known as “The five hundred pound Gorilla,” was Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senate Majority Leader and Senate Pro Tempore (third in line to be President).  He could levitate and move a federal lab with the stroke of his pen.  With a stroke of his pen, he moved the FBI Fingerprint Center and its 3000 employees from Washington DC to Clarksburg WV.

In 1992, I met with the Honorable Attorney Congressman Harley O. Staggers Jr in the Democratic Cloakroom of the House Judiciary Committee while the Judiciary was in session.  We discussed merging the Morgantown Energy Technology Center and the Pittsburgh Energy Technology Center -- instead of closing the Pittsburgh Energy Technology Center.

In 1997, the Morgantown and Pittsburgh Energy Technology Centers were merged to form the National Energy Technology Laboratory. 
The 535 federal employees of both Centers chose me to represent them during the merger.  How could I do that?  With some help from my friends in
“the little railroad town that could.”

Below is a letter I found in the Robert C. Byrd Center for Congressional History and Education.  Senator Byrd was the Senate Majority Leader, Senate Pro Tempore (third in line to be President) and Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee.  In 1981, Harley O. “Buckey” Staggers Jr was a member of the West Virginia State Senate.

Senator Byrd completes his letter
“Assuring you of my desire to be of assistance whenever possible”
then signs the letter
“Best Regards, tell Harley and Mary hello for Emma and me.”

Senator Byrd and his wife Emma were close friends with Harley O. Staggers Sr and his wife Mary.  Harley O. Staggers was elected to Congress in 1948.  Robert C. Byrd was elected to Congress in 1952.

House Majority Leader Jim Wright (D-Texas), Chair of the House Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce Harley O. Staggers Sr (D-WV),  Speaker of the House “Tip” O’Neill (D-MA) and Senate Majority Leader Robert C. Byrd (D-WV)

I can be contacted at FDShaffer@Gmail.com  and 412-320-0510