WASHINGTON, DC – The Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) has accepted an offer from the University of California regarding the final notice of violation issued to the university in September 2007 for violations of the department's classified information security requirements during the university's tenure as the management and operating contractor of the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico.

NNSA had imposed a civil penalty of $3 million. In the settlement proposal, the university offered to pay a penalty of $2.8 million, withdraw its election to seek judicial review of the notice and accept responsibility for the violations.

These violations were revealed during an investigation following the discovery of classified matter in the residence of an employee of a laboratory subcontractor in October 2006.

Established by Congress in 2000, NNSA is a separately organized agency within the U.S. Department of Energy responsible for enhancing national security through the military application of nuclear science. NNSA maintains and enhances the safety, security, reliability and performance of the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile without nuclear testing; works to reduce global danger from weapons of mass destruction; provides the U.S. Navy with safe and effective nuclear propulsion; and responds to nuclear and radiological emergencies in the United States and abroad.

Media contact(s):
NNSA Public Affairs (202) 586-7371