Idaho National Lab (INEL)

[Rennhack]

Don't forget to vote. Please keep it civil.

[Rennhack]

Please reply to this topic if you have (or know who has) a contract at this facility.  If you (they) have multiple contracts (i.e. QC & NDE) please mention all of them.  Also, please remember to post company contact information, including but not limited to company phone number, email and web site address.  Also, if there is a specific person at the company people should ask for, you should mention their name and extension. We maintain a chart of contracts, the information posted here will be added to the contract chart.
 
This includes any information on Local Unions!
Chart: http://www.nukeworker.com/jobs/contract_lists

[Rennhack]

Don't forget to vote.  Keep your comments civil.

[mikemckinley]

little help here.  any comments from anyone.  where to live, not to.  is it the coldest place in na?

[billmesiano]

Moved back to if 2 years ago/ yes it's cold in the winter but great summer and spring season. great fishing/hunting and golf. Not much night life.
Crime rate is very low and the area is somewhat religious.
Close travel to yellowstone/salt lake city and jackson hole.
Don't live on lettered streets or some numbered streets.
many people are moving to ammon because of taxes alot lower.
Site is approx 60 miles away any is a 2 lane hwy. Boring ride with nothing in between. Can be rough in the winter.
Can be reached 2 bill1996@cableone.net for more info.

[UncaBuffalo]

My first job was at INEL and I swore I'd never do another Idaho winter again...never got above freezing for three months straight...AND wind blew ALL the time.

Also, the 70 minute bus ride there and back every day got REALLY old.

That being said, the site itself (guess it's INEEL now?) was decent work...at least as far as government work goes.

[wave_theory]

just curious, billmesiano, why shouldnt you live on lettered streets or some numbered streets?

[indoprime]

Not much to do in Idaho Falls at all. Outside of work, old rock and roll oriented bars.  (Cheff can't get with that).  The major cities are Boise / Salt Lake, which are 3+ hours from here.  Lotsa places to eat, overun with Mormons, I won't be here much longer than a year.  

[Rennhack]

just curious, billmesiano, why shouldnt you live on lettered streets or some numbered streets?

I've never been there, but I can answer this one.  He was giving you a heads up on the bad part of town, where the crime is out of control.

[Phurst]

I've never been there, but I can answer this one.  He was giving you a heads up on the bad part of town, where the crime is out of control.

Even the potatoes get mashed.

[Paladin]

I would love to enter a "below average" vote if I knew how.

[St Raphael]

Mike, In comparison to what?  To other DOE sites, or to the industry in general?  

[St Raphael]

Eastern Idaho's largest city, Idaho Falls is somewhat small (50,000). Although small, there are about seven communities surrounding Idaho Falls - giving the area a lot to offer.  Eastern Idaho has it all, Camping, hiking, fishing, hunting, kayaking, mountain climbing, as well as about 13 golf courses.  Four scenic byways. Sand dunes. Fantastic winters because the snow is super light. Great for snowboarding and downhill skiing, with the Grand Tetons- Jackson Hole-Yellowstone about an hour away. Opal mines in Spencer. Several museums- the states largest - the Museum of Idaho.  Shoshone-Bannock Gaming Casino at Fort Hall.  A great Bluegrass festival in the summer in Targee.  For the Arts crowd; Idaho Falls Arts Council, plays, dance, classical music, musical threatre, opera, the Colonial Theater, Rock, Blues. Willard Arts Museum, 8 Art Galleries, Comedy, Dinner Theater, nightclubs and bars. An airport with direct flights to Seattle, Boise, and Salt Lake. Three universities and a community college. Shoppping; TJMaxx, Bed, Bath and Beyond, Malls, And yes, of course the INEEL.  Biggest drawback - NO OCEAN!!!!!   [smiley=bigcry.gif] Only an airplane ride away.

[DecommMan]

Great place to go if you love outdoors and being away from big cities and what these can offer - good and bad.  If you like to hunt or fish or whitewater raft GO.  If you like night life, easy access to everyplace else, warmer weather - DON'T GO ! Its a very conservative area.

[jocro]

Been there off 'n on fer a long time.  Hate the fishn', scenery, mountains.  Welcome ya'll to the Northeast.

[St Raphael]

Eastern Idaho's largest city, Idaho Falls is somewhat small (50,000). Although small, there are about seven communities surrounding Idaho Falls - giving the area a lot to offer.  Eastern Idaho has it all, Camping, hiking, fishing, hunting, kayaking, mountain climbing, as well as about 13 golf courses.  Four scenic byways. Sand dunes. Fantastic winters because the snow is super light. Great for snowboarding and downhill skiing, with the Grand Tetons- Jackson Hole-Yellowstone about an hour away. Opal mines in Spencer. Several museums- the states largest - the Museum of Idaho.  Shoshone-Bannock Gaming Casino at Fort Hall.  A great Bluegrass festival in the summer in Targee.  For the Arts crowd; Idaho Falls Arts Council, plays, dance, classical music, musical threatre, opera, the Colonial Theater, Rock, Blues. Willard Arts Museum, 8 Art Galleries, Comedy, Dinner Theater, nightclubs and bars. An airport with direct flights to Seattle, Boise, and Salt Lake. Three universities and a community college. Shoppping; TJMaxx, Bed, Bath and Beyond, Malls, And yes, of course the INEEL.  Biggest drawback - NO OCEAN!!!!!   [smiley=bigcry.gif] Only an airplane ride away. 

[MercTech]

Anyone have suggestions for lodging for the INEEL?

Idaho Falls, Pocatello etc.

[moke]

Hi Merc tech,

Many National Labs have temporary housing and/or work with the local community placing visitors. You might surf their webpage and get connected.

Goodluck,

Moke

[devildog]

 MercTech , i am here working at ineel and they do not supply any housing. your choices are arco and atomic city they are close and cheap  but there is nothing else around . if a life is what you are after then i would suggest idaho falls. who are you working for and where are working?

[apmccloskey]

I am considering a long term job at NRF.
Is Idaho Falls a nicer place to buy a house and raise a family, or is Pocatello or Blackfoot better?

[jocro]

PACE was the local union here untill the company bought out the workers, and seniority went away.  This is not personal knowledge, but mostly true from talk among former union members.  Bartlett, EG&G and some other small contractors share the contract jobs.  Philotechnics has the tech contract at Naval Reactors Facility/Bechtel Bettis, while Bechtel/BWXT has the rest of the M&O contract at the INEEL for the time being.  That contract is up for re-bid this year.  BNFL and CH2MHILL are the rumored bidders against Bechtel/BWXT.

[apmccloskey]

Philotechnics lost the d&d contract at NRF to BWXT

[Camella Black]

If anyone has a favorite hang out, place to shop, or local information for this area please post it here.

[tff986s]

i spent not quite a year at ineel... a bit of a drive will take you to heidi's, a german rest in howe [nw of rwmc], and i found it quite worth the trip.... call for hours of op etc, as it is kind of 'out there'!!  also the lava beds a bit further west of there are interesting and make for a good picnic in good weather...

check out locals stories on the gold buried out in the site area from an old west bank robbery [rumored to be jesse james or buff bill, i don't remember which...]

[devildog]

I worked there on and off for about 7 months. If you want a great place to have a drink and hang around a great bunch of people try Mar Cellars in Idaho Falls. They have a great wine selection and great brews on tap.