Correction to news media accounts

Contact: Kevin Roark, camerahead@lanl.gov, (505) 665-0582 (00-086)

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LOS ALAMOS, N.M., June 14, 2000 -- Media reports that managers at Los Alamos National Laboratory have been suspended in response to a delay in notification of the Laboratory's recent security incident are incorrect.

No employees have been suspended. Action taken by Laboratory Director John Browne to put several managers on leave with pay was taken to ensure the independence of a University of California review of the recent security incident.

The Director's action was not related to when notification of the missing hard drives was made to the Department of Energy. Senior program management notified Browne as soon as they learned about the missing hard drives. DOE was notified immediately thereafter.

Several Laboratory managers were placed on paid leave Monday. This is not a disciplinary, punitive or corrective action. The individuals on leave represent the management chain of command -- from group leader up to the office of the Laboratory director -- who have some responsibility and/or accountability relevant to this incident.

Disciplinary or corrective action, if any, will be determined on the basis of results of the UC management review and other inquiries underway.

The Laboratory does not release names or any other personal identifiers in actions such as this, consistent with UC personnel policies.

More news releases from the Security and Safeguards (S) Division