Los Alamos National Laboratory today acknowledged findings from a Department of Energy inquiry stemming from a security incident that occurred in October 2006 involving unsecured classified materials.
The Laboratory has committed to the DOE and the National Nuclear Security Administration to make security improvements consistent with those outlined in the compliance order, and has in fact already taken steps to address many of the findings.
Robust security is accomplished by reducing risks and anticipating future threats; the Laboratory is demonstrating its commitment to both and the Los Alamos National Security corporate partners have provided expertise in support of this commitment. In addition to creating a new organization to oversee cybersecurity, the Laboratory has already taken important, aggressive actions to reduce the total amount of its classified holdings and to consolidate those holdings into as few areas as possible without damaging productivity.
On July 10, the Laboratory’s so-called “Super Vault-Type-Room,” first in the DOE complex, was physical security certified. The Super VTR concept will greatly improve not only security but also functionality and will allow the Laboratory to close as many as eight additional VTRs across the Lab.
Several additional key areas where the Laboratory has already reduced security risk include:
• Accountable Classified Removable Media (ACREM) at the Laboratory has been reduced by more than 85 percent since 2003
• Classified repositories reduced by 23 percent
• ACREM libraries have been consolidated into fewer than 20 locations
• Vaults and Vault-Type-Rooms have been reduced by 15 percent
• The number of classified parts Lab-wide are scheduled for 30-50 percent reduction by the end of this year
• Personnel entering and exiting classified areas are subject to random search
• Personnel entering and exiting VTRs are subject to mandatory search
• Improving training and policies to ensure personal accountability at all employment levels
Because security at the Laboratory involves everyone, one of the most important long-term efforts is involving employees and listening to their ideas and concerns about how best to get the work done securely.
Los Alamos National Laboratory, a multidisciplinary research institution engaged in strategic science on behalf of national security, is operated by Los Alamos National Security, LLC, a team composed of Bechtel National, the University of California, The Babcock & Wilcox Company, and the Washington Division of URS for the Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration.
Los Alamos enhances national security by ensuring the safety and reliability of the U.S. nuclear stockpile, developing technologies to reduce threats from weapons of mass destruction, and solving problems related to energy, environment, infrastructure, health, and global security concerns.