Beginning today, bicyclists without a valid Laboratory or Department of Energy security badge will no longer be allowed to use Pajarito Road. Protection Technology Los Alamos (PTLA) personnel will require all bicyclists to stop at the access control points on both ends of Pajarito Road and present a valid Laboratory security Laboratory badge for inspection. Bicyclists who aren't Laboratory employees and cannot present valid Laboratory security badges will be asked to find another route to ride.
In addition to Laboratory or DOE badges, cyclists riding on Pajarito Road during the holiday closure must be on a special access list to be allowed through. The special access lists will be provided to the Security and Safeguards (S) Division through associate directors.
Badged bicyclists should use the open lane that is the furthest to the right and have their badges readily available. Cyclists wearing helmets or dark glasses may be asked to remove them so that security personnel can verify identities.
Bicycles have been used in suicide bombings in various locations overseas, and Laboratory security specialists believe that this method should be given careful consideration as it pertains to protection of nuclear assets within the Pajarito Road corridor.
Motorists must allow cyclists to merge into a checkpoint lane without obstruction and must comply with the 25-mile per hour speed limit requirement near the control points.
Walkers, joggers, work crews and others on foot on Pajarito Road will not have to stop at the access control points, but must display a valid Los Alamos badge. Pedestrians may be challenged and if they can't present a valid badge, will be escorted off the property.
Access to Pajarito Road may be allowed if there is an extreme medical emergency and a person needs to be transported to the Los Alamos Medical Center. In that case, there must be at least one badge-holder in the vehicle. PTLA may provide an escort to the hospital. Personal information will be gathered on the driver and patient at the hospital to document the emergency nature of the escort. After Jan. 3, 2005, emergency access by privately owned vehicles will require at least one badge-holder in the vehicle. After Jan. 3, motorists who require emergency access will have to call 9-1-1, in advance, to notify protective force personnel and provide the make, model and color of the vehicle, number of occupants and the nature of emergency.
People who need access during the holiday closure that are not on the access list may contact the S Division on-call duty officer at 7-4437 and leave a message. The officer will evaluate the request on a case-by-case basis and only for valid reasons.
For information about changes to Laboratory security posts during the scheduled holiday closure, see the Dec. 13 Daily Newsbulletin or Notice 152 (Adobe Acrobat Reader required).
--Kathy DeLucas
