Mike Knotek, the nationally recognized scientist lured to Richland to oversee creation of the Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory, is leaving a few months before the $230 million high-tech lab officially opens.

"I didn't resign, but I'm leaving," said Knotek, who said he will join Washington State University Tri-Cities in Richland, although details of his new responsibilities still are being worked out with WSU President Sam Smith.

"I decided I need to pursue a position outside the laboratory," Knotek said Wednesday. "I'm sorry, but I can't tell you any more."

Knotek is expected to leave Battelle's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory by Dec. 31.

His leaving is part of a senior management reorganization under way at Battelle, which is expected to be complete next week. PNNL Director Bill Madia declined Tuesday to comment on Knotek's withdrawal or other pending management changes.

Battelle spokesman Greg Koller said it's premature to comment because, "Things are still playing out internally. When they come together, we'll notify our staff."

At the urging of the late Bill Wiley, former PNNL director, Knotek joined Battelle in 1989 from the Brookhaven National Laboratory.

Knotek has served as associate labora tory director, one of six senior-level positions within PNNL. He has managed Environmental and Energy Sciences, which includes EMSL, dedicated recently to Wiley and scheduled to open in October 1997.

Knotek and two other scientific superstars were hired by Wiley to go through the bureaucratic and political obstacles that, at least for a while, threatened EMSL's existence, and to broaden Battelle's scientific reputation.

EMSL, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, is overseen by Martha Krebs, director of DOE's Office of Energy Research.

A chief spokesman in her Washington, D.C., office Tuesday, who asked not to be named, said Knotek, "as a manager and human being who was passionate about his work and about the lab, is going to be sorely missed.

"At the same time, there is a recognition that the people he has installed below him will be able to step in and continue ..., and that is a credit to Mike's leadership.

"From the point of view of DOE, Mike is part of our family and is highly regarded. We're positive he will serve in a different capacity because he has unique management and analytical skills," Krebs' spokesman said.