Laboratory sees smooth transition to year 2000

Contact: James Rickman, (505) 665-9203 (00-001)

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LOS ALAMOS, N.M., Jan. 1, 2000 -- Personnel at the U.S. Department of Energy's Los Alamos National Laboratory reported that systems were normal after the arrival of the Year 2000.

On New Year's Eve, Laboratory facility managers and other personnel checked buildings for any problems that might have developed because of the year-2000 date changeover. They reported their findings to Laboratory senior managers and emergency management officials, who were present in Los Alamos' Emergency Operations Center at Technical Area 59. Los Alamos officials were joined in the Emergency Operations Center by Los Alamos County government officials.
Key operational and safety systems were unaffected by the date changeover.

Laboratory employees should plan to report for work on a normal schedule Monday, Jan. 3, unless delays due to weather or other factors are announced.

The Laboratory has spent more than two years and nearly $15 million assessing the readiness of its 24,000-plus computers - everything from desktop computers to computer servers to systems that operate facilities.

In advance of the year-2000 changeover, the Laboratory published and distributed to its workers a personal preparedness brochure containing tips on preparing for the changeover at home.

Additionally, Los Alamos created a World Wide Web page with continuously updated information on the Laboratory's year-2000 readiness efforts.

The Laboratory also tested its power plant to ensure that electrical power to key Laboratory facilities wouldn't be interrupted. Laboratory vehicles were fueled well in advance of the year-2000 date changeover.

More news releases from the Facility and Waste Operations (FWO) Division