News Releases
Operations & Organization > Security
Security
Los Alamos already taking steps to address DOE security findings
July 13 — 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.
Los Alamos National Laboratory to hold robot rodeo
May 16 — The Los Alamos Bomb Squad will host a Robot Rodeo on May 21-25, 2007 at Technical Area 49.
New vehicle access requirements begin next week
January 3 — Beginning January 8, all westbound vehicles coming into to Technical Area 3, or traveling to the Pajarito Ski Hill, and other areas on West Jemez Road will have to drive through new Vehicle Access Portals.
Laboratory hosts HAZMAT Challenge
July 20 — Sixteen teams will compete in the 10th Annual HAZMAT Challenge designed to test hazardous materials response skills.
Los Alamos muon detector could thwart nuclear smugglers
February 19 — Trillions of cosmic rays that constantly bombard Earth could help catch smugglers trying to bring nuclear weapons or materials into the United States.
Laboratory announces organizational changes
October 12 — As part of efforts to strengthen laboratory operations and the senior management team, Los Alamos National Laboratory Director George P. Nanos today announced a reorganization of his senior management team and the Laboratory's Operations Directorate. Effective October 13, 2004, the Operations Directorate will be split into two directorates that will provide enhanced services and functions to the Laboratory.
Nanos directs swift action, demands accountability in new classified media incident
July 9 — During a July 7 special inventory associated with an upcoming experiment, two items of Classified Removable Electronic Media (CREM) were discovered missing from the Weapons Physics (WP) Directorate. An immediate search did not locate the items. A subsequent and extensive search is currently continuing.
Lab upgrades to Security Condition two
December 22 — Consistent with national terrorist threat level orange, announced over the weekend by the Bush administration, the National Nuclear Security Administration has directed Los Alamos National Laboratory to upgrade to Security Condition (SECON) two. The Laboratory last upgraded to SECON 2 in May.
Annual inventory discovers classified media discrepancies
December 9 — A routine inventory of classified computer media at Los Alamos National Laboratory's new Nonproliferation and International Security Center has identified inventory discrepancies involving missing electronic storage devices. While the Laboratory expects the federal government to perform an independent analysis of this situation, initial Laboratory review indicates that national security was not jeopardized by this incident.
2003 Hazmat Challenge features Chem/Bio weapons response
August 18 — The largest field of contestants, including for the first time teams from outside New Mexico, and an action-packed schedule of events highlight the 2003 New Mexico State Hazmat Challenge, Aug. 19 through 22 at Los Alamos National Laboratory.
Laboratory discovers material accounting discrepancy
June 18 — During a routine materials transfer at Los Alamos National Laboratory a discrepancy was identified in the systems used to catalog materials, leading to the Laboratory's inability to fully account for two low-purity analytical samples of plutonium-oxide. The total amount of nuclear material involved is very small, but due to security requirements the specific quantity cannot be disclosed.
Los Alamos Director testifies on security incident
June 21 — In testimony today before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Los Alamos National Laboratory Director John Browne described a number of additional actions he has taken in response to the recent security incident involving mishandling of two computer hard drives containing classified information.
Lab director orders actions in response to security incident
June 13 — Los Alamos National Laboratory Director John Browne is taking a wide range of actions in response to the two hard drives containing classified information missing from the Department of Energy laboratory.
Lab returns to Security Condition Three
April 16 — At the direction of the Department of Energy, Los Alamos National Laboratory has changed its Security Condition (SECON) to an enhanced SECON-3, consistent with the national threat level yellow. The Laboratory had been at a higher state of alert, SECON-2, since March 18.
Lab upgrades to Security Condition 2
March 18 — Consistent with national terrorist threat level orange, announced last evening by President Bush, the National Nuclear Security Administration has directed Los Alamos National Laboratory to upgrade to Security Condition (SECON) two.
Lab returns to Security Condition Three
February 28 — Los Alamos National Laboratory has changed its Security Condition (SECON) to an enhanced SECON-3, consistent with the national threat level yellow. The Laboratory had been at a higher state of alert, SECON-2, since Feb. 7.
Inventory weakness identified, remedied
February 25 — Weakness in the process for firearms inventory was recently identified during an investigation of firearms internal controls at Los Alamos National Laboratory. The weakness pointed out an inability to quickly confirm that all firearms owned by the Laboratory were accounted for.
Lab upgrades to Security Condition Two
February 7 — Consistent with national terrorist threat level orange, announced today by the U.S. Attorney General, the Department of Energy has directed Los Alamos National Laboratory to upgrade to Security Condition (SECON) two, the same level in effect immediately after the events of Sept. 11, 2001, and again on Sept. 9, 2002.
Office of Security Inquiries restructured
January 23 — In an ongoing effort to fundamentally change the University of California's audit oversight of Los Alamos National Laboratory, the waste, fraud and abuse inquiry function of the Laboratory's Office of Security Inquiries (OSI) has been transferred to the Audits and Assessments Office, reporting directly to UC Auditor Patrick Reed.
Superhenc to save millions in Colorado
October 25 — Los Alamos National Laboratory's SuperHENC waste characterization tool has been delivered to the Rocky Flats Environmental Technology Site (Rocky Flats) near Denver, Colorado.
MORE SECURITY NEWS >>>
