Humboldt Bay

[matthew.b]

Did Humboldt Bay have containment?

I've seen the claim that it didn't in multiple places, but then that might just be the fact that when people don't see the big concrete dome, they think that means the plant didn't have containment.

[snowman]

Brett,
 Do you have a number up there for Rob Schnieder.

Hollywood actors are getting in the D&D business? Well shiver me timber...

[LaFeet]

Okay, first let me say that i wear thermals even during the summer months. 
The amount of sunshine is the main cause of vitamin D deficiency and rampant depression. 
This is one of the few places that I know of people collecting welfare and unemployment while driving different "Benz's & 'Cedes" to collect said funds. 
You can tell which houses are grow houses by the horrible stench the emit (and many of them next to public schools).
The sand is black and the water cold.  The oysters are bland and the beef blander.
Your chances of an on time or successful flight into/out of the regional airport is not in your favor.

On the bright side, there are several casinos and excellent local breweries in the area.

[OldHP]

Okay, first let me say that i wear thermals even during the summer months. 
The amount of sunshine is the main cause of vitamin D deficiency and rampant depression. 
This is one of the few places that I know of people collecting welfare and unemployment while driving different "Benz's & 'Cedes" to collect said funds. 
You can tell which houses are grow houses by the horrible stench the emit (and many of them next to public schools).
The sand is black and the water cold.  The oysters are bland and the beef blander.
Your chances of an on time or successful flight into/out of the regional airport is not in your favor.

On the bright side, there are several casinos and excellent local breweries in the area.

Finally a comment feom LaFeet.  Tell it like it is!   

[Brett LaVigne]

Finally a comment feom LaFeet.  Tell it like it is!   

While I agree with some of what LaFeet says, like anywhere you have areas that you don't want to live and areas where you do. My family and I find Humboldt County to be one of the most unique and wonderful areas we have ever lived in. It is a very family orientated area but has little outlet for younger folks that might be looking for a night life. Yes, a large portion of the area is supported by marijuana growing, but it isn't in your face unless you frequent certain areas. The fact of the matter is that there is little else to do here for a living and if the marijuana trade were to go away, the area would litterally sink into total dispair. I won't get into the moral arguments of the subject other than to say that I find it hypocritical of people to denounce something that has no science to prove it to be as evil as some would like us to believe and in the same breath be just fine with alcohol and tobacco which claim the lives of many each year...whatever, that is a personal thing to decide upon. The California handout programs suck, that I agree with. CA politics are just plain stupid, but that goes for the state in general.

The businesses are all open (most) and have patrons. There is a small town mentality that strives to take care of each other by keeping big business out and shopping at the store that your neighbor owns (nearest WalMart is 1 1/2 hours away ). The scenery is 2nd to NONE with the huge trees, rugged coastline and breath taking inland lakes and mountains. During the summer months (when it literally never rains) there are more festivals, concerts, farmers markets (real ones) than you can shake a stick at. It is truly incredible how much there is to do here in the summer.

I could go on and on about my attraction to the area, but you get the point. It isn't for everyone, that is for sure, but if you like it here, you probably love it here. For many, it is not as great as I say it is...the heart wants what the heart wants and there is just no arguing taste. If you love nature and like the idea of a "live and let live" small town culture, this is THE place to be.

I just had to give my 2 cents. I joke about not talking this place up too much, but it is on my short list of great places to live...at the top of my short list.

[UncaBuffalo]

While I agree with some of what LaFeet says, like anywhere you have areas that you don't want to live and areas where you do. My family and I find Humboldt County to be one of the most unique and wonderful areas we have ever lived in. It is a very family orientated area but has little outlet for younger folks that might be looking for a night life. Yes, a large portion of the area is supported by marijuana growing, but it isn't in your face unless you frequent certain areas. The fact of the matter is that there is little else to do here for a living and if the marijuana trade were to go away, the area would litterally sink into total dispair. I won't get into the moral arguments of the subject other than to say that I find it hypocritical of people to denounce something that has no science to prove it to be as evil as some would like us to believe and in the same breath be just fine with alcohol and tobacco which claim the lives of many each year...whatever, that is a personal thing to decide upon. The California handout programs suck, that I agree with. CA politics are just plain stupid, but that goes for the state in general.

The businesses are all open (most) and have patrons. There is a small town mentality that strives to take care of each other by keeping big business out and shopping at the store that your neighbor owns (nearest WalMart is 1 1/2 hours away ). The scenery is 2nd to NONE with the huge trees, rugged coastline and breath taking inland lakes and mountains. During the summer months (when it literally never rains) there are more festivals, concerts, farmers markets (real ones) than you can shake a stick at. It is truly incredible how much there is to do here in the summer.

I could go on and on about my attraction to the area, but you get the point. It isn't for everyone, that is for sure, but if you like it here, you probably love it here. For many, it is not as great as I say it is...the heart wants what the heart wants and there is just no arguing taste. If you love nature and like the idea of a "live and let live" small town culture, this is THE place to be.

I just had to give my 2 cents. I joke about not talking this place up too much, but it is on my short list of great places to live...at the top of my short list.

Preach it, Brother! 

...except...sorry about this...now we have to kick you out of the "Humboldt County!!! You don't want to go there!!! It rains all the time and the Hippies are stinky!!!" club 




I agree with you about Humboldt making the short list of best places to live...

[LaFeet]

 Peace to you Brett,  being from a different part of the country I understand how someone might enjoy what Humboldt County offers.   I do my best to enjoy myself out here, but having spent most of my early life on the Gulf Coast of Florida, I long for real sunshine and Appalachicola oysters.

 As for the politics -  this place sucks.  That much we totally agree on.  And yes, there are a plethora of establishments that offer decent food.  Sometimes you even need a reservation just to get in.  But black sand?? 50 degree water (when its warm) and vitamin D diminishing sunshine does not make this Southern boy happy all the time.  Thank goodness I get to work with people like you (yes  a complement -  you deserve it my friend).   

[OldHP]

Peace to you Brett,  being from a different part of the country I understand how someone might enjoy what Humboldt County offers.   I do my best to enjoy myself out here, but having spent most of my early life on the Gulf Coast of Florida, I long for real sunshine and Appalachicola oysters.
 

Someone who was able to become a 'full fleged' OKIE as quick as LaFeet can also live anywhere and find peace! 

[LaFeet]

Thanks Terry -  and if you might have forgotten   I was born at Tinker.... it just took Enercon a while to get me back to the state.

[OldHP]

Thanks Terry -  and if you might have forgotten   I was born at Tinker.... it just took Enercon a while to get me back to the state.

This is true, but you also lived through life on the 671!  My next to last as the SS Eng!   

[IonEyes]

I hear Bartlett has a contract up there at Humboldt now for a small number of RP Techs and Deconners. 

PG&E TAs are getting what now?  About $42.98 plus per diem? 

What's Bartlett paying?

[Brett LaVigne]

I hear Bartlett has a contract up there at Humboldt now for a small number of RP Techs and Deconners. 

PG&E TAs are getting what now?  About $42.98 plus per diem? 

What's Bartlett paying?

They must pay prevailing wage. The perdiem and bene's are where folks are gonna miss out. Should be a pretty nice gig none the less when compared with other Bartlett jobs. There won't be many of them, but the rumors are true that we will have a handfull.
The hourly rate looks pretty close last I checked. We actually have more than one rate, it depends on experience level. The Decon spots will be filled by mostly locals and probably won't be a perdiem job for that regardless of where they come from. It is an entry level position.

[Sun Dog]

The new techs will be supplied by Bartlett de Mexico S.A. de C.V.  You know them.  Technically competent, barely literate in English, don't pay Federal or state tax, at least in the US of A.  Outsourcing on a local level...coming to a nuke near you!

[Brett LaVigne]

The new techs will be supplied by Bartlett de Mexico S.A. de C.V.  You know them.  Technically competent, barely literate in English, don't pay Federal or state tax, at least in the US of A.  Outsourcing on a local level...coming to a nuke near you!

Uh...not so much. I think you might be thinking of the plant that is about 20 hours south of us. 

[Sun Dog]

Uh...not so much. I think you might be thinking of the plant that is about 20 hours south of us.  

You know how it goes, SoCal sneezes and and the country gets a cold.

Overheard during a recent RPM conference call:

RPM #1  "Let me get this straight.  You are saying you lowered your outage costs and reduced the ability for the contractors to second guess everything with their irritating questioning attitude?  How?  How?"

RPM #2  "Insourcing Dude"

[Brett LaVigne]

You know how it goes, SoCal sneezes and and the country gets a cold.

Overheard during a recent RPM conference call:

RPM #1  "Let me get this straight.  You are saying you lowered your outage costs and reduced the ability for the contractors to second guess everything with their irritating questioning attitude?  How?  How?"

RPM #2  "Insourcing Dude"

A Rad Protection Manager that makes statements like that does not deserve the job. "Irritating questioning attitude"...Seems like his peers would take issue with a question/statement like that if they were serious about what RP does.

[HydroDave63]

A Rad Protection Manager that makes statements like that does not deserve the job. "Irritating questioning attitude"...Seems like his peers would take issue with a question/statement like that if they were serious about what RP does.

Unless they were making up for a lack of HVAC by maintaining a "chilled work environment" 

[Sun Dog]

A Rad Protection Manager that makes statements like that does not deserve the job. "Irritating questioning attitude"...Seems like his peers would take issue with a question/statement like that if they were serious about what RP does.

Busted!  Not wanting to overstate the obvious, I chose not to use the  emoticon.  Everybody knows that an RPM would never make statements like those where they could be overheard by a third party!

[LaFeet]

The new techs will be supplied by Bartlett de Mexico S.A. de C.V.  You know them.  Technically competent, barely literate in English, don't pay Federal or state tax, at least in the US of A.  Outsourcing on a local level...coming to a nuke near you!

 With the initial (and continued) response concerning another contractor bringing in a large collective of spanish speaking (primary -  there are some that speak english well), but hard working personnel, I do not think that PG&E will insource from beyond the border.
 
 After all, this is still a union plant (somehow) and the do have some standards here.

[IonEyes]

The Bartlett techs will join IBEW while working there, right?

[LaFeet]

The Bartlett techs will join IBEW while working there, right?

I am not sure but I do not think so.....

[IonEyes]

I hope they're joining IBEW.

If not, it begs the question, what's the deal with management putting non-union techs up there?  Hard to believe it could be so hard for Johnny C to find dues-paying Temporary Additionals for over $40/hour.

What does your union steward have to say about it?

[Brett LaVigne]

I hope they're joining IBEW.

If not, it begs the question, what's the deal with management putting non-union techs up there?  Hard to believe it could be so hard for Johnny C to find dues-paying Temporary Additionals for over $40/hour.

What does your union steward have to say about it?

The biggest reason that we have decided to go with a contractor is to be able to get folks in here in a timely fashion. We already have techs and decon here working for contract companies. The only difference here is that we are hiring contractors for the Operations group which has been PG&E T/A up till now. Our Human Resources dept. has made it so difficult to get people in here that we need to do it this way to support the timeline. I doubt that they will be part of the union. It's a long story, but that is the nutshell version.

[LaFeet]

 Unless you have not heard, Day & Zimmerman is out of Humboldt.  Flour has replaced them, and the politics are only just now getting messy (ier).
 
 I have fallen to the political sway and shall depart Humboldt this Thursday.

 I wish the best for those remaining, but fear the worst.

 Perhaps I might return, only wearing a NRC hat.

[Laundry Man]

That stinks, I know you wanted to be there for the long haul.
LM