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East Jemez Road VAPs
Effective September 26, 2009, important changes at the East Jemez Road Vehicle Access Portals (VAPs) will affect commuters who drive through those VAPs.
VAP Lanes
- Lanes 1 and 6 usually will be closed except during heavy traffic.
- Lanes 2 through 5 will be open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. These lanes will not be staffed by Protective Force officers, and stopping at them will not be required. All vehicles must slow down to 15 miles per hour while nearing and driving through the VAPs.
- Lane 7 (the right-most VAP) will be staffed by a Protective Force officer 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Large vehicles (government and commercial delivery trucks, RVs, etc.) must stop at Lane 7 and proceed only after an indication by the Protective Force officer to do so.
Commercial delivery vehicle drivers must present their vehicle inspection passes from Post 10.
Note 1: Government delivery trucks bearing government plates and driven by badged drivers do not have to present a vehicle inspection pass from Post 10 as commercial delivery truck drivers do.
Note 2: Drivers of commercial delivery vehicles that do not need to access LANL property or are going directly to the Los Alamos townsite do not need to stop at Post 10.
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Frequently Asked Questions about the
East Jemez Road VAPs
Question: After wasting millions of dollars on building and manning guard posts, why is the Laboratory now getting rid of the guards at the East Jemez VAPs?
Answer: The vast majority of vehicles that come onto Laboratory property are of a certain size and configuration that does not constitute a threat. The Laboratory is moving to a strategy that will aim resources at screening only the vehicles that need to be screened, thus reducing the need to staff all of the vehicle inspection stations.
Question: What about the threat from vehicles has changed? What about that change allows you to take this step?
Answer: The threat has not changed. The government’s requirements on how the Laboratory must protect the site has not changed. The Laboratory is simply seeking a more efficient way to apply resources where they are most effective.
Question: Will all the VAPs be unstaffed?
Answer: There are no changes to the Pajarito Road and West Jemez Road VAPs; only the East Jemez VAPs will undergo operational changes. All the VAPs, except for Lane 7, on East Jemez Road will be unstaffed. Lane 7 will be staffed to process commercial delivery trucks and other large vehicles such as RVs. Commercial delivery vehicle drivers will need to present their inspection passes from Post 10.
Question: Why is the Laboratory changing the access requirement through the East Jemez VAPs?
Answer: The Laboratory has significant experience screening vehicles that constitute a threat. Based on a routine review of the security program, this change in VAP staffing is more appropriate for the current potential threat.
Question: What about the West Jemez VAPs?
Answer: The security requirements have not changed at West Jemez. Drivers must still stop and wait for an indication to proceed from the Protective Force officer.
Question: How many of the East Jemez Road VAPs will be torn down?
Answer: None. The VAPs will be restaffed if the security conditions change.
Question: How will the Laboratory keep drivers from passing through the VAPs at unsafe speeds?
Answer: The Laboratory will install signs and speed humps.
Resources
More Information
Email spp-questions@lanl.gov
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