"I am committed to taking the strongest possible actions I can to secure the nation's nuclear secrets," Browne said. "These actions will include disciplinary actions up to and including termination of employment against individuals who willfully or carelessly violate the rules."
The missing hard drives were located at the Laboratory June 16. The incident is the subject of an ongoing criminal investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Browne said the incident overshadows the improvements Los Alamos employees have made in security in the last two years. "It is difficult for me to fully convey my sense of frustration at the damage a single act -- apparently human error or intentional wrongdoing -- can do to the accomplishments of so many," he said.
Browne addressed in his testimony what some have described as a "cultural issue" at the Laboratory, or the view that some Laboratory employees flaunt the rules. "Security rules apply to everyone here. No level of expertise or insider knowledge can justify departures from our security requirements," Browne said.
Browne informed the Senate committee today of the following immediate actions:
- NEST activities at Los Alamos are now in a "stand down" condition.
- Fourteen individuals associated with NEST who had unescorted access to the vault have been reassigned to a two-week security immersion program.
In addition to the immediate actions the laboratory has also:
- Reviewed security procedures for all 96 vaults at Los Alamos.
- Changed all vault lock combinations.
- Expanded log-in requirements for entry into all vaults.
- Begun bar-coding of classified high-density computer storage media to facilitate inventory.
Browne acknowledged that tension between science and security has existed since the days of the Manhattan Project, and stated his belief that the two are compatible.
"Outstanding science is necessary," Browne said, "but it is not sufficient alone. Arrogance, indifference, or carelessness, regardless of an individual's or an organization's accomplishments, will not be allowed to compromise our nation's security."
Browne stated that of the six managers who had previously been placed on paid leave, the two most senior managers have returned to work and resumed their duties for managing the nuclear weapons program.
Browne described what he believed are root causes and contributing factors of the incident, based on what has been learned so far. Among the root causes he cited human failure.
Contributing factors include a government-wide de-emphasis on formal accounting of classified material that began in the early 1990s, which weakened security practices and created an atmosphere that led to less rigor and formality in handling classified material.
Browne clarified for the record the date on which he learned the hard drives were missing -- June 1, not May 31 as he had previously reported. He corrected the date after reviewing his calendar for that time frame.
The hard drives were noted to be missing on May 7, when two NEST members retrieved materials to move them to another secure location more accessible when the Cerro Grande fire got out of control. The hard drives are, of necessity, easily portable. "When NEST is mobilized," Browne said, "the hard drives in question are removed from the Laboratory as required. In fact, they have been removed many times in the past, and control has always been maintained."
Browne also addressed the delay between when the drives were noted to be missing on May 7 and when he learned of the incident and notified DOE on June 1. "That delay is plainly and absolutely unacceptable. The timeline is of serious concern," Browne said.
In his closing comments, Browne reiterated his own responsibility with respect to this incident, stating that as director he is ultimately accountable for the actions of the Laboratory.
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.