LOS ALAMOS, N.M., June 12, 2000 - Los Alamos National Laboratory Director John Browne today announced that a joint Department of Energy/Federal Bureau of Investigation inquiry has been underway into missing classified information at the Department of Energy laboratory.
The information was stored on electronic media that are not presently accounted for. Efforts continue to locate the missing media or to determine if they were inadvertently destroyed.
"This is an extremely serious matter and we are taking swift actions to deal with it," Browne said.
Ed Curran, Director of DOE's Office of Counterintelligence, said, "At this point there is no evidence that suggests espionage is involved in this incident."
Los Alamos, DOE and the University of California have consulted on the incident and jointly discussed appropriate response actions. At Browne's direction, several administrative response actions have been taken and others have been defined and scheduled for implementation. Some await the results of further inquiry.
"If the inquiry reveals that individuals did not fulfill their responsibilities with respect to this matter, they will face certain and appropriate disciplinary actions," Browne said.
The University of California is prepared to take all necessary and appropriate action to address this matter. This includes making all improvements at Los Alamos and holding individuals personally accountable for their conduct or lack of action.
Browne added that in addition to the ongoing inquiry, UC is conducting a separate, independent review of laboratory management performance and practices related to this incident.
Officials are conducting an exhaustive search of computers, safes, containers and vaults and are interviewing all staff members who had access to the vault where the media were stored.
Potentially involved Laboratory organizations were "stood down" during this process - employees suspended their normal activities so they could assist with the search and do a full accounting of materials.
The Laboratory formally notified DOE headquarters of the incident June 1. Secretary Bill Richardson tasked Deputy Secretary T.J. Glauthier to oversee the inquiry. Glauthier dispatched to Los Alamos General Eugene Habiger, Director of DOE's Office of Security and Emergency Operations, to lead the DOE inquiry, working closely with the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Terry Owens, UC's laboratory security expert, also was at Los Alamos in response to this incident.
Habiger said he anticipates the inquiry will account for the missing electronic media. He also noted that impacts of the recent Cerro Grande Fire cannot be overlooked with respect to this incident.
"Our inquiry has been conducted during a period in which employees are still recovering from the effects of a major emergency disaster. Part of the Laboratory's rigorous process for resuming operations has included a look at the physical integrity of all its buildings and security systems," Habiger said.
Los Alamos National Laboratory is operated by the University of California for the U.S. Department of Energy.