Part of the Security Perimeter Project
New access requirements are scheduled to go into effect in early January when the Security Perimeter begins full operation in and around Technical Area 3.
Shortly after Laboratory employees return to work from the holiday closure in January, they and other motorists will have to drive through Vehicle Access Portals (VAP), located at East Jemez Road (near the southeast corner of Diamond Drive and Jemez Road) and West Jemez Road (at the Camp May Road intersection), said Mike Grimler of Security Assessments (SEC-SA5).
The Lab’s present Security Condition (SECON) level (3+) allows all individuals, including those who don’t work for the Lab, to proceed through the portals. Vehicles and motorcycles are required to stop momentarily at each booth and wait for a verbal or hand signal from a Protection Technology Los Alamos officer to proceed. During SECON 3+, no identification check is required of the driver or the passengers of vehicles or motorcycles, But Grimler stressed that all vehicles passing through the VAPs are subject to inspection.
Large commercial delivery vehicles are required to present a Post 10 vehicle inspection pass obtained from Security Post 10, which is located near the intersection of East Jemez Road and NM 4. A vehicle inspection pass is required for all such delivery vehicles desiring access beyond the VAPs whether or not a delivery is intended for the Laboratory, said Grimler.
All RVs and motor homes are required to stop at the VAPs for a vehicle check by a Protective Force officer; however, an ID check is not required.
Bicycles can proceed through the VAP lanes without stopping. Pedestrians are not required to process through the VAPs. Instead, pedestrians should use sidewalks to access the area beyond the VAPs, Grimler added.
Laboratory bus services must stop momentarily at the booth; no ID check is required. Park and ride service buses will not access the area beyond the East Jemez VAP. Instead, park and ride service buses will use a special access road to take passengers to the park and ride drop-off and parking area. Individuals can then use the sidewalks from the parking area to walk to Diamond Drive and onto Technical Area 3.
Emergency vehicles may proceed through the bus/emergency vehicle bypass lane during an emergency. During a non-emergency, emergency vehicles must use the lanes leading to VAP booths and stop momentarily, but no ID check is required during SECON 3+, said Grimler.
The Security (SEC) Division determined access requirements for different SECON levels through vulnerability analyses, risk assessments, Department of Energy order requirements, and other guidance from DOE.
Access requirements for the East and West Jemez Road VAPs differ from the requirements for accessing the Pajarito corridor. The Pajarito corridor remains open to badge holders only per existing controls, said Grimler.
For more information, go to the Security Perimeter Web page. For questions, write to spp-questions@lanl.gov by electronic mail.
