DATE=6/12/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=MISSING NUCLEAR MATERIALS (L)
NUMBER=2-263411
BYLINE=MIKE O'SULLIVAN
DATELINE=LOS ANGELES
INTERNET=YES
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:

INTRO:  U-S officials say a search is underway 
for nuclear secrets stored on computer devices at 
a U-S weapons laboratory.  As we hear from Mike 
O'Sullivan in V-O-A's West Coast bureau, the 
officials say they have  not  uncovered evidence 
of espionage.

TEXT:  Officials of the U-S Department of Energy 
say the Federal Bureau of Investigation is 
assisting in the search for the missing data at 
the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico.  
Monday, the New York Times website broke the 
story, saying the missing computer drives 
contained secret information used to respond to 
nuclear accidents and nuclear threats from 
terrorists.  The newspaper said the devices also 
contain intelligence information on Russia's 
nuclear weapons program.

The Los Alamos laboratory was evacuated in early 
May when it was threatened by forest fires.  The 
material was reported missing June first.  Energy 
Department officials have said security personnel 
remained at the base during the evacuation, and 
that structures containing sensitive nuclear 
secrets were not threatened by the fires.

Monday, John Browne, the director of the research 
facility, called the disappearance an extremely 
serious matter, which he says officials are 
taking swift actions to deal with.  The head of 
security for the laboratory says there is no 
evidence of espionage.  

A laboratory news release says officials are 
conducting an exhaustive search of computers, 
safes, containers and vaults, and interviewing 
staff members with access to the vault where the 
data was stored.

The Los Alamos facility is the oldest and best 
known U-S nuclear research center, where 
scientists developed the first atomic bomb during 
the Second World War.  Over the past year, 
however, the laboratory has been criticized for 
lax security after the firing of one of its 
scientists, Wen Ho Lee, for mishandling nuclear 
secrets.  Originally suspected of passing nuclear 
secrets to China, Mr. Lee was never charged with 
espionage, but is awaiting trial on charges of 
illegally copying vast amounts of weapons data. 
He faces a possible term of life in prison if 
convicted.

Officials have not ruled out the possibility that 
the missing computer data was misplaced during 
evacuation of the laboratory.  They say it could 
also have been stolen, or inadvertently 
destroyed.  (Signed)

NEB/MO'S/KL



12-Jun-2000 20:34 PM EDT (13-Jun-2000 0034 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.