Lab’s Disks Still Missing

The nuclear weapons laboratory here is still searching for missing computer disks that contain secret information, officials at the facility told visiting Bush administration executives and members of Congress on Monday.

The disappearance of the disks is blamed in part on scientists and engineers who flout rules intended to protect critical nuclear weapons secrets, part of a culture that lab director Pete Nanos said he intended to change.

“I think in the short term they will be beefing up security measures,” said Rep. Diana DeGette (D-Colo.), a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee who attended Monday’s closed briefing by Nanos. “We want both short-term and long-term changes.”

Nanos gave a several-hour briefing and a tour to a group of officials that included Deputy Energy Secretary Kyle McSlarrow, National Nuclear Security Administration director Linton Brooks and Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas).

The lab this month acknowledged that it had lost two computer disks containing classified information, and has confirmed that it reported to the Energy Department that some classified information was improperly transmitted over an open e-mail system. The incident follows nearly a decade of problems at the lab, ranging from financial fraud to improper storage of nuclear waste. On Friday, Nanos ordered an indefinite suspension of most operations at the facility.

Barton, who was not available after the tour, has been among the lab’s most outspoken critics. At a House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing last week, Barton criticized Energy Department officials, saying, “There’s probably better security at the ... public library over CDs and videos.”

Problems at the lab have turned up the heat on the University of California, which manages Los Alamos under contract with the Energy Department.

Michael Reese, a UC spokesman, said Monday that when the university’s contract expired next year, it might bid for a renewal with a partner, possibly defense company Lockheed Martin.

“The discussions continue with a number of potential partners, including Lockheed,” Reese said. He said he did not know how soon a decision would be made but noted that UC officials had not determined whether to even pursue a bid.

DeGette said in an interview that she believed UC officials now recognized the seriousness of the problems at Los Alamos. But, she added, Congress is unlikely to accept vague promises to beef up security after so many years of failure to do so.

Research at the lab remained largely shut down Monday while supervisors reviewed security procedures with each employee. Supervisors in the lab’s 25 divisions, spread out over 36 square miles, began taking steps to resume operations, lab spokesman Jim Fallin said. These include one-on-one interviews to ensure that employees understand and comply with established rules, and to stress that the lab will not tolerate those who choose not to, he said.

On Monday, Fallin conveyed to the public affairs staff the gravity of the situation. “It is vitally important that you understand this is not situation normal,” he said.

Lab officials said they expected that some parts of the lab, especially those operating at the lowest of the four security levels, would be back in full operation by the end of the day Monday. Critical missions that would affect national security were not halted.

Vartabedian reported from Los Angeles and Hanley from Los Alamos. Times staff writer Rebecca Trounson contributed to this report.