Settlement reached with Lab Public Affairs director

Contact: Jackie Paris-Chitanvis, jackiepc@lanl.gov, (505) 667-7000 (00-051)

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LOS ALAMOS, N.M., April 12, 2000 -- Los Alamos National Laboratory announced today that former Public Affairs Director Sylvia J. Brucchi has resigned from the Laboratory, effective April 7, due to differences in style and direction between her and the Laboratory. Brucchi served as director of the Laboratory's Public Affairs Office from February 1998 until September 1999. Brucchi has been on leave since August.

In August 1999, Brucchi was mentioned in news stories regarding a key players database created by the Laboratory's Public Affairs Office. The database contained information regarding public officials and others involved in recent security publicity at the Laboratory.

The Laboratory directed an investigation into the issue, which concluded that the database was not an "enemies list," as portrayed by the media, but was intended simply to keep track of individuals interested in and involved in the espionage issue. The investigation also found that there had been no improprieties or errors on Brucchi's part in contracting with outside consultants during her tenure in the Public Affairs Office.

Brucchi and the Laboratory have entered into a mutually acceptable separation agreement resolving all issues between them. The Laboratory determined that a separation agreement was appropriate in light of the differences between Brucchi and Laboratory senior officials, and in light of the fact that Brucchi relocated to Los Alamos from a long-standing position in Oregon with the United States Forest Service to accept the Laboratory position.

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