WASHINGTON,    DC – Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham made the following statement today on security issues at the Los Alamos National Lab:

“Last week I directed Deputy Secretary Kyle McSlarrow and Linton Brooks, Administrator of the National Nuclear Security Administration, to take personal charge of the investigation into the recent security lapses at Los Alamos National Laboratory. They conducted their initial visit on Sunday and Monday and briefed me on their observations this morning. 

Deputy Secretary McSlarrow and Administrator Brooks have thus far concluded that the failure to follow appropriate procedures is widespread and extends beyond the security area. As a result, they conclude that Los Alamos lacks an effective system to ensure the proper accountability of so-called Controlled Removable Electronic Media such as computer disks and hard drives. While they were impressed with the strong action being taken by the Laboratory Director, they are concerned that some within the laboratory work force fail to understand the seriousness of the situation. This clearly illustrates the need both for immediate, effective and permanent corrective action and for meaningful administrative and disciplinary action at an appropriate time.

As a result of the McSlarrow and Brooks report, I have directed that classified operations involving Controlled Removable Electronic Media will not resume until Deputy Secretary McSlarrow and Administrator Brooks inform me of their satisfaction that the newly implemented corrective actions provide for complete and verifiable custodial control of such media. Given the very broad nature of the classified activities underway at the lab and likely differences in the ability of some divisions to implement security modifications more quickly than others, I expect the restart of the various operations to take place in stages rather than all at once. Last week’s industrial accident also convinces me that federal concurrence will be necessary if the laboratory is to resume operations with significant safety implications.

I have also directed Deputy Secretary McSlarrow and Administrator Brooks to develop recommendations by the end of the week for any necessary actions at other facilities to improve the control of controlled portable electronic media.

The department will continue to insist that the University of California, which operates Los Alamos, take strong measures to ensure that the laboratory corrects the systematic flaws that allowed this problem to occur. To bolster this effort, the local site office will be augmented with additional security specialists from DOE Headquarters. 

Deputy Secretary McSlarrow and Administrator Brooks will continue to oversee this investigation and keep me fully briefed. The investigation will continue to place the highest priority on locating the missing material. I have therefore directed Deputy Secretary McSlarrow and Administrator Brooks to coordinate with other federal agencies associated with the work of Los Alamos, as well as with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, to keep them fully informed of this investigation.”

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