Los Alamos Officials Discover Classified Information Sent Over Unclassified E-Mail System

Classified information at the U.S. Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico was sent on multiple occasions over an unclassified e-mail system, the Los Angeles Times reported today (see GSN, July 16).

The laboratory refused to comment on specific details about the e-mails, including their content, according to the Times.

“Without discussing specifics, all matters or incidents associated with unclassified e-mails and classified information have been properly reported to NNSA (the National Nuclear Security Administration) and have been properly mitigated to prevent significant risks to national security,” said Los Alamos Public Affairs Director James Fallin.

Energy Department officials arrived at the laboratory Sunday to examine security concerns, including reports that 19 electronic storage devices containing classified information are missing (Ralph Vartabedian, Los Angeles Times, July 19).

On Friday, Los Alamos Director Peter Nanos suspended all activities at the laboratory due to a number of recent security- and safety-related concerns.

For example, a Los Alamos intern last week damaged the retina of her left eye performing an experiment with a laser, according to Agence France-Presse. Fallin said that there was little risk of the intern permanently damaging her eyesight.

Despite the work suspension, all Los Alamos employees were expected to report to the facility today for safety and security training, AFP reported (Agence France-Presse/Yahoo!News, July 18).

Meanwhile, a classified floppy disk reported missing late last month from the Sandia National Laboratories in New Mexico was found Friday, according to the Associated Press.

“The disk was always under the control of individuals authorized to possess it,” Sandia Vice President of Integrated Security and Chief Security Officer Ron Detry said (Associated Press/Newsday, July 16).

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