DATE=6/16/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=HARD DRIVES (L)
NUMBER=2-263564
BYLINE=JIM RANDLE
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=

VOICED AT: 


INTRO:  The U-S Energy Department says two missing 
computer hard drives filled with nuclear weapons 
secrets have been found.  The drives disappeared from 
a vault at a nuclear weapons laboratory, weeks ago 
prompting great concern - and a criminal 
investigation.  V-O-A'S Jim Randle reports


TEXT:  The computer information storage devices 
were found away from their protective vault, but 
still inside the building where they were 
supposed to be kept secure.

According to one report, the missing devices were 
discovered behind a photocopy machine at the Los 
Alamos laboratory in New Mexixo.

The hard drives contain detailed information 
about nuclear explosives that could help 
officials disarm a nuclear weapon.
 
News reports say the hard drives contain 
information about weapons from Russia, France, 
China, and the United States. 

Meantime, a government official says 
investigators want to find out where the devices 
were, who had access to them and whether or not 
they were compromised.  

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has `dozens' 
of agents working on this case which has been 
front page news in the United States for several 
days.

The Energy Department has custody of U-S nuclear 
weapons and research.  This incident is the 
latest in a string of embarrassing security 
failures that have prompted harsh Congressional 
criticism of the department's vigilance, along 
with some high profile hearings.  (Signed)



NEB/PT




16-Jun-2000 19:08 PM EDT (16-Jun-2000 2308 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.