Report says Los Alamos National Lab Failed to Protect Classified Information
Updated: 01/28/2015 10:12 PM | Created: 01/28/2015 9:19 PM
By: Danielle Todesco, KOB Eyewitness News 4
It has just been one problem after another for the Los Alamos National Laboratory as of late. This week alone, several of those problems are in the headlines.
The latest problem out of LANL is a new report obtained by our partners at the Santa Fe New Mexican. It shows that a classification officer at LANL failed to protect classified information, and because of that, there were six different incidents where information involving national security was wrongly released.
It is also hard to forget the radiation leak at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant near Carlsbad, which was blamed on LANL. Investigators say workers at LANL started using a different kind of kitty litter for packing, which caused a barrel to burst.
State Representative David Gallegos says he hopes to work with the representative who serves Los Alamos to see how the state can help prevent any more problems at LANL.
"Right away, disappointment came to my mind because, like I say, they've been under the microscope since the incident at the WIPP site, so it's one of those things. When you're being viewed that closely...you're going to find errors," Representative Gallegos said. "It also gives you the opportunity to upgrade the way you do business, and I was disappointed that they've gotten more problems than what was already revealed."
LANL officials released this brief statement on the release of classified information:
"The lab is looking at addressing the issues raised in the report through a set of corrective actions."
14 comments:
Really LANL/LANS, another security FUBAR?
Just a really bad result of one employee's incompetence. No way management could have prevented this. But the media will have its spin.
Who in their right mind would want to take on the job of being an ADC (Authorized Derivative Classifier) at one of the highly dysfunctional NNSA weapon labs? It's a risky and thankless position.
But, if you are crazy enough to take the position (or it is forced on you by your management) then at least make sure you have lots of extra money saved up to pay for the expensive lawyers you'll need once you make a classification error!
When you see events such as this occurring, you can understand the root cause of almost all of LANL's failures. It is just one more case of "I'm from LANL and the rules don't apply to me."
In 1997 Dr. Vic Reis (Assistant Secretary of Energy, DP-1) stated to me "it's the day in and day out safety and security issues at Los Alamos" . That's almost 20-years ago and we still have the same day in and day out safety and security issues. We should actually thank Bechtel for continuing the legacy. Thanks Bechtel!
I agree with 8:25 that Lab management can't prevent the occasional incompetent employee. However, in this case, management in ADSSER had evidence, for years, that the CO was violating lab policies, DOE orders, not appropriately applying DOE classification guidance, and yet failed to act. The incidents in the IG report are just the tip of the iceberg, and a second investigation into who knew what, and when they knew it, would be very telling about why this situation was allowed to get as bad as it did.
Reid never said any such thing,8:01. You are a liar.
Reid never said any such thing,8:01. You are a liar.
January 30, 2015 at 9:48 AM
Oh he said it. Let me add some credibility to this. Do you know off the top of your head who the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Military Applications (DASMA) was at the time? Gene Ives, former Sandian. I was in the Forrestal working for Dr. Reis. By the way bonehead, it's Reis not Reid.
In 1997 Dr. Vic Reis (Assistant Secretary of Energy, DP-1) stated to me "it's the day in and day out safety and security issues at Los Alamos" . That's almost 20-years ago and we still have the same day in and day out safety and security issues. We should actually thank Bechtel for continuing the legacy. Thanks Bechtel!
January 30, 2015 at 8:01 AM
Vic was spot on when he made that observation, and little has changed since then. However, Bechtel should get only a small fraction of the credit and UC should claim the lion's share of it. The origin of the 'day in and day out safety and security issues at Los Alamos' run deep in the UC legacy. While it may be popular to blame Bechtel for not "fixing" the problem, it is doubtful that the problem was fixable as long as UC was a significant player in the mix.
Did you work for Pete Nanos too? You are cut from the same tired and pathetic cloth.
You can pinpoint the start of the downward spiral -- Tiger Teams under Admiral Watkins.
1:16 Actually it began before that with Don Kerr's matrix management.
When you are no longer urgently needed, things like CYA risk aversion, bloated micro-management and endless criticism are the result. It's the fruit that is produced for not being an organization of true importance. You can attempt to live off your glorious history but the world behind that history has moved on to a different place.
The nuclear weapon labs, as you might guess, are no longer important. By that, I mean the people in power are not concerned about producing new atomic bombs or spending vast sums to keep the current weapons 100% successful. Some of them will work (or, so they believe), and that's all that's required.
You won't fully grasp what is happening at these labs until you understand the underlying reality. No on cares about the weapon labs. Not really. Deal with this truth in the best manner you can but it is the truth.
When you are no longer urgently needed, things like CYA risk aversion, bloated micro-management and endless criticism are the result.
January 31, 2015 at 7:23 PM
This blog demonstrates in ultra-clarity that this pertains to individual employees as well. Otherwise, there would be no blog, and no problems at the national labs.
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