University of California President Richard Atkinson pledged to
“take decisive action” in response to multiple federal
investigations at Los Alamos National Laboratory.
In a statement released Friday, Atkinson said he was “very
concerned” about recent allegations of theft and cover-ups at
the UC-managed nuclear lab.
“We intend to find out what occurred, correct any
deficiencies, and discipline anyone who has engaged in improper
activity,” Atkinson said.
The UC oversees the operations of three national laboratories
““ Los Alamos, Berkeley and Livermore ““ for the
Department of Energy and the National Nuclear Security
Administration.
An internal lab document leaked to the non-partisan Project on
Government Oversight listed over $1.3 million in lost and stolen
computers, power supplies and other equipment in fiscal year
2001.
There are no suspects in any of the incidents of theft, and no
arrests have been made, according to the document.
Atkinson’s statement places the value of unlocated items
at a lower number ““ slightly over $1 million.
Because computers are missing from the lab ““ which is
responsible for maintaining the safety of U.S. nuclear weapons
““ POGO is concerned that national security has been
breached.
“Whenever you have computers going out the door
you’ve got a problem because you don’t know what was on
those computers,” said Pete Stockton, a senior investigator
for POGO.
Atkinson said it is up to individuals to maintain national
security at the lab, and anyone breaking that trust will be
punished.
“There will be zero tolerance for any level of illegal
activity by those entrusted with safeguarding our national
security,” Atkinson said.
Lab press aide Jim Danneskiold said there is no record of any
classified computers being missing or stolen.
Los Alamos uses methods of counting its inventory that are
common within the federal government and is in compliance with
federal guidelines, said UC press aide Jeff Garberson.
In addition to the DOE investigation of missing inventory, the
FBI is investigating whether employees have made unauthorized
purchases with lab funds.
The UC is currently reviewing its policy to try and prevent
these purchases, according to Atkinson’s statement.
Stockton, who was a special assistant on security matters for
Energy Secretary Bill Richardson during the Clinton administration,
said the current investigations could jeopardize the UC’s lab
management contract.
The Congressional commerce and energy committee and the
committee on science are also getting involved in the
investigation, he said.
The UC has managed Los Alamos since 1943; its current contract
to run Los Alamos lasts until September 2005.
“The university is very anxious to be perceived as a good,
effective contractor,” Garberson said.
But the recent security breaches at Los Alamos bring the
UC’s effectiveness as a contractor into question, Stockton
said.
“Change certainly should be considered,” Stockton
said. “Whenever you have a government contractor that has
lost control of its programs you should definitely consider
it.”