Monday, March 22, 1999
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DOE delegation at Lab to review security As Lab Director John Browne, right, looks over some notes, Department of Energy Under Secretary Ernie Moniz flashes a warm smile following a special all-managers meeting Friday to discuss security issues with a DOE delegation led by Moniz. The Delegation was in Los Alamos for the day to review security at the Laboratory. Joining Moniz were Vic Reis, assistant secretary for Defense Programs; Ed Curran, director of the Office of Counterintelligence; Joe Mahaley, director of Security Affairs; and Robin Staffin, senior policy advisor. During the discussion with Lab managers, Moniz emphasized the importance of security at all the national laboratories and referred to the various steps DOE has outlined to improve security (see related DOE news release below). He also noted that he found a strong commitment to security at the Laboratory. Photo by Ed Vigil |
Energy Secretary announces seven new initiatives to strengthen
DOE counterintelligence efforts
Energy Secretary Bill Richardson recently announced seven new initiatives to strengthen the Department of Energy's ability to prevent the loss of sensitive information.
"These seven new initiatives, coupled with recommendations we have already implemented, will go a long way to ensure our nation's national security by giving us the tools and resources we need to prevent the loss of sensitive information," said Richardson in a DOE news release. He noted that the new initiative would "enable the Department of Energy to have one of the strongest counterintelligence programs in government."
The DOE's seven new initiatives are in the areas of cyber security, document control, foreign visitors security review, monitoring DOE's progress, reexamining counterintelligence files, congressional notification and internal inquiry. For more information, see the news release.
Foreign travel and foreign national contacts: What is reportable?
The Internal Security Office (ISEC), due to recent events, has experienced an upsurge in requests for information about reporting foreign travel and contact with foreign nationals.
Presidential Decision Directive/NSC 12 requires that every employee report all contacts with individuals of any nationality if that person tries to get any illegal or unauthorized access to sensitive or classified information from the employee. This applies even if the information falls outside the scope of the employee's official activities. The employee must also report any contact if they are concerned that they may be the target of either actual or attempted exploitation by a foreign entity.
ISEC would like to remind all employees that if they feel they are being drawn into a suspect conversation, they are under no obligation to disclose any information to anyone-including personal information about themselves or colleagues. Because the elicitation of sensitive information is usually subtle and difficult to recognize, ISEC recommends reporting any suspicious conversations with persons of any nationality.
Requests for official foreign travel should be directed to the Laboratory's Foreign Travel Office (BUS-1, 7-2811). For unofficial or personal travel to a sensitive country, Form 1512.1 must be completed and submitted to ISEC. Contact anyone in the ISEC team for counterintelligence concerns regarding travel.
There are several types of foreign national contacts that must be reported during the clearance process, at both the initial clearance request and at each five-year clearance renewal. Any changes in status between the five-year reinvestigations should also be reported to ISEC. This includes the citizenship of relatives and associates along with any "close and continuing" contact with foreign nationals, such as a romantic relationship, a close friendship, or other situation like sharing a residence.
Employees must also report it if they go to work for a foreign national, a foreign business, or even a domestic but foreign-owned business. Employees should also report other types of business-related relationships with foreign interests beyond basic employment.
The general guidelines for reporting foreign travel and contact with foreign nationals can be found on the ISEC website at http://s6server.lanl.gov/isec/foreigntrav.html.
-- Kevin N. Roark
Frequently asked questions about In response to heightened security awareness, the director's office has enhanced existing procedures for visits by uncleared foreign nationals. This supplemental procedure for unclassified foreign national visits and assignments became effective March 12. The visit approval process now involves a much more comprehensive review of the technical merits of foreign national visits. However, the new supplemental procedure has prompted a variety of frequently asked questions about visits to the Laboratory by persons of foreign nationality. Q: Does this procedure apply to all foreign national visits? A: No. This applies to visits by foreign nationals from countries on the Department of Energy's sensitive countries list, or visits by any foreign national when the possibility exists that the foreign national could be exposed to sensitive information. For guidance on determining what is sensitive information, and how to protect it, consult the S-7 website at http://int.lanl.gov/orgs/s/s7/s7.html. The DOE sensitive country list can be found on ISEC's website at http://s6server.lanl.gov/isec/list.html. Visit requests for foreign nationals from countries not on the sensitive country list will be processed as usual. Q: Does this new supplemental procedure affect foreign nationals who have clearances? A: No. This does not affect the cleared foreign national visitors program. Q: Will this procedure have an effect on foreign national visits that have already been approved? A: If your visit has already been approved, this supplemental procedure will not affect those individuals until you request a renewal or extension for the visit. However, the host organization should exercise diligence throughout the visit or assignment to protect sensitive information. Q: How much longer will it take to get foreign visits approved under the new procedure? A: ISEC will require that the request be submitted at least 30 days in advance of the visit. Q: What are the responsibilities of the technical host in terms of submitting requests for foreign visits under this new procedure? A: Host organizations are required to obtain signatures from the host, the group leader, the division or program manager and the appropriate associate Laboratory director. The 982 is then submitted to ISEC staff where additional concurrence and indices required under the supplemental procedure will be obtained. For further information on the responsibilities of hosting a foreign national, see the ISEC website. Q: Are there any exceptions to the supplemental procedure, such as foreign national visits for lab-to-lab or government-to-government collaborations? A: As of March 19, 1999, there are no exceptions. Q: Are resident aliens considered foreign nationals? A: Yes, until a resident alien is granted citizenship, he/she is considered a foreign national. DOE order 1240.2b defines a foreign national as anyone who is not a U.S. citizen, or is a stateless person or an immigrant alien (persons with resident alien status). ISEC is initiating a Lab-wide training program starting in mid-April that will cover the requirements and procedures for the new supplemental procedure for foreign national visits as well as export controls, technical data and sensitive information determination, computer security, conflict of interest and operational security. For scheduling of the ISEC training, or further information on foreign visits and assignments policies, contact Lori Hutchins at 5-5561 or lori@lanl.gov. |
Child-development initiative to serve Lab workforce
Women, men and people of color need to experience early the possibilities of careers in science, according to Martha Krebs, director of the Department of Energy's Office of Science.
Krebs spoke Friday in the Jemez and Cochiti rooms of the J. Robert Oppenheimer Study Center. After the talk, Krebs and Warren F. "Pete" Miller, acting deputy Laboratory director for Business, Administration and Outreach announced plans for a child-development initiative to serve the Laboratory workforce and the region (see the March 19 Daily Newsbulletin).
Krebs' talk was sponsored by the Women's Diversity Working Group as part of Women's History Month at the Laboratory. The theme of this year's Women's History Month is "Women: Putting Our Stamp on America."
Krebs noted that the modern workforce is changing and "is going to be dominated by women coming into the workforce and minorities coming into the workforce."
Krebs said in her role as director of the Office of Science, she hopes to be able to raise the awareness of diversity across the DOE complex. She said she co-chairs a task force called the Science and Technology Workforce of the Future that among other things is recommending additional research to validate the to date largely anecdotal studies supporting the value of a diverse workforce.
"The problem is the legal environment is now basically setting a higher standard for programs [that give special consideration to women and minorities], not that there's an underlying prejudice, but to whether they're needed," said Krebs.
The task force, she said, also is recommending an increase in support for undergraduate and graduate education, an increase in the diversity of science, technology and engineering faculty at the nation's colleges and universities, and encouraging private industry to support undergraduate and graduate education programs.
Regarding the child-development initiative, Krebs said, "I think this is an important kind of service that needs to be provided if we're going to support families . . . It's been a long time coming and I'm just delighted to be here to celebrate this announcement."
Miller emphasized Laboratory Director John Browne's support of the initiative. "We've been working on this for several years," said Miller. "Our Women's Diversity Working Group, with the help of others, including the Diversity Office, rolled up their sleeves and helped put together arguments why this kind of initiative is needed," he said.
Miller added that the Lab will work closely with community child-care providers to augment rather than be a threat to them.
Women's History Month activities continue next Thursday with a talk by Cholene Espinoza, a former U2 pilot and military instructor. She will talk about "Components of Success" from noon to 1 p.m. in the Jemez Room of the Study Center.
More information on activities at the Lab for Women's History Month can be found at http://www.lanl.gov/projects/DIVERSITY/wdwg/March1999.html online.
-Steve Sandoval
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Martha Krebs, center, director of the Department of Energy's Office of Science, talks with Laura Jones, left, of Geoanalysis (EES-5) and Warren F. "Pete" Miller, acting deputy Laboratory director for business, administration and outreach, on Friday in the Jemez Room of the Study Center. Krebs spoke about diversity issues and her office as part of Women's History Month at the Lab. Photo by Ed Vigil |
Library Without Walls project attracts worldwide attention
The Laboratory's Library Without Walls Project in the Computing, Information and Communications (CIC) Division is the subject of a paper to be presented today at the American Chemical Society conference in Anaheim, Calif.
Staff at Stanford University selected the Library Without Walls project based on products such as the SciSearch and BIOSIS databases that the Lab has provided to Stanford through the project, explained Rick Luce of the Research Library (CIC-14).
Advanced Database and Information Technology (CIC-15) and Computer Research and Applications (CIC-3) collaborated with CIC-14 on the Library Without Walls project.
The Library Without Walls Project has attracted a lot of attention worldwide, said Luce. "The project's mission is to create a network of knowledge systems that will facilitate scientific collaboration," he said.
Frances Knudson of CIC-14 will present the paper at the American Chemical Society conference. The paper will focus on the delivery of scientific databases via the World Wide Web to a potential user's desktop computer, the digitization of Laboratory technical reports, simultaneous database searches and techniques to aid researchers in processing scientific information.
The Library Without Walls project, which started in late 1994, allows library customers to use computer and network technology to access a wealth of digital information sources worldwide, any time, anywhere. The project's long-term goal is creation of a network of knowledge systems that facilitate collaboration among researchers, said Luce.
Through the Library Without Walls, researchers can access scientific databases, electronic journals and technical reports, said Luce. Other institutions, including Sandia National Laboratories, University of New Mexico, New Mexico State, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology and the Air Force Research Laboratory, currently receive scientific and technological journals and access web-based databases through the Library Without Walls project.
The Laboratory is extending that partnership to other institutions statewide through the New Mexico Library Alliance. Researchers statewide also could benefit from a recent major expansion of technical publications available online that has made the Laboratory one of the largest repositories of electronic scientific publications in the world.
Elsevier Science has announced that it will make licensed access to all of its 1,200 English-language journals through the Laboratory's Library Without Walls project. Not-for-profit research institutions that have contracts with Elsevier will be able to access the journals electronically through the Laboratory. Elsevier Science can be found at http://www.elsevier.nl/homepage/about.http online.
"It's significant that the Research Library has been recognized as a partner by the world's largest scientific publisher," Luce said.
"They have been very impressed with what we have been doing in the project, the technology we're using and how fast we're moving."
The Laboratory has been working with the Netherlands-based publisher for three years and already subscribes to about 300 Elsevier journal titles. By selecting the Lab as an Advanced Technology Partnership, Elsevier will be providing roughly $900,000 worth of technical information annually at a significant cost savings to the Lab. Luce said the additional journals represent about 700 gigabytes of data with archival holdings back to 1995.
"Elsevier saw that we've been able to integrate their journals quickly and efficiently," Luce said. "The Laboratory's technical staff is pushing us -- and were are pushing publishers such as Elsevier -- to provide better electronic access to scientific and technical information, and to move into the next generation of digital library technology."
Beginning today, the Laboratory will begin a test to provide access to every Elsevier English-language journal for the entire DOE complex.
More information about the Library Without Walls Project is available at http://lib-www.lanl.gov/lww/welcome.html online.
--Steve Sandoval and Jim Danneskiold
According to the Benefits office, the University of California will be mailing medical plan satisfaction surveys today to a random sampling of UC employees, retirees, and family members across the UC system. The number of Lab employees that will receive the mailing is unclear, but more than 15,000 surveys are being mailed throughout the entire UC system. The survey is being conducted by the Center for the Study of Services, an independent research firm, to measure member satisfaction with UC medical plans during the calendar year 1998. Surveys will be mailed to home addresses. Survey results will be made available in the fall of 1999. If you have any questions regarding the survey, call CSS at 1-800-874-5561. --David Lyons |
'Take Care of Yourself' suvey results are in
90 percent say self-care guide is a good source
of health information
Three-quarters of Laboratory employees and subcontract personnel who completed the "Take Care of Yourself" medical self-care survey believe the guide will help them decide when they need to see a physician.
And 90 percent of the respondents said the self-care guide is a good source of health information.
The Positive Health Directions programs surveyed employees on the "Take Care of Yourself" medical self-care guide that University of California Lab employees and some subcontract personnel received, said Jessica Kisiel of Occupational Medicine (ESH-2).
The survey was taken as part of "Wise Health Consumer Month" in February at the Lab, and 863 employees and subcontractors completed the 13-question survey, said Kisiel.
Other survey results indicated that 92 percent felt the self-care guide is easy to understand and 85 percent said the self-care guide is a valuable employee benefit. And three in 10 respondents said the self-care guide has helped save money on health-care costs in the past six months.
Kisiel said that of the total number of respondents who completed the survey -- it was available online or in hard-copy format if requested -- 27 percent said they avoided a visit to a doctor by using the guide.
Nine percent said the guide helped them avoid a trip to the emergency room, and 11 percent of the respondents believe the book has reduced the number of days they are absent from work because of illness or other health-related matter.
Jerry Williams, medical director of ESH-2, said he was pleased with the response to the survey from employees and subcontractors. "In terms of patient and customer satisfaction, the percentage of satisfaction was exceptionally high," said Williams. "All are good rationale for continuing this program."
The survey was modeled after a similar survey done by the city of Birmingham, Ala., noted Williams. Employees in that survey also viewed the "Take Care of Yourself" medical self-care guide as a positive part of their health-care package.
"The responses we got were at least as good as the Birmingham experience, and in some cases considerably better," said Williams.
Employees and subcontract personnel who submitted written comments called the guide well organized and easy to understand. One respondent wrote, "This is the most valuable tool LANL has ever provided for its employees." Another wrote, "It's an excellent handbook. Our whole family has been able to use it with results."
Other survey respondents wrote, "The book was staring at me right in the face when I got sick and didn't know what to do, since I hardly ever get sick. It was very helpful and wonderful."
Employees can obtain a copy of "Take Care of Yourself" from Kisiel by writing to jkisiel@lanl.gov by electronic mail, or by calling 5-4368. "Take Care of Yourself" provides advice on what level of health care is needed after the user enters symptoms of an injury or illness, Kisiel explained. It then directs the user to either see a doctor, make an appointment with his or her health care provider, call a trained physician for advice or take care of the problem at home.
More information about the Positive Health Directions program can be found at http://www.hr.lanl.gov/GoodHealth/ online.
--Steve Sandoval
State district judge talks of experiences that helped shape her career
State District Judge Carol Vigil talked about experiences growing up that helped shape her career last Wednesday in the J. Robert Oppenheimer Study Center as part of Women's History Month at the Laboratory sponsored by the Women's Diversity Working Group. A Tesuque Pueblo native, Vigil earned her law degree at the University of New Mexico in 1978 and after years as an attorney in private practice and the New Mexico Attorney General's Office was elected to a judgeship in the First Judicial District in 1997. Vigil also talked about women lawyers in New Mexico -- 31 percent out of 6,500 licensed lawyers in the state are women, she said -- as well as gender bias in the courtroom and how her experiences as a Native American woman have helped her in her legal practice.
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At left, Santa Fe High School student Bricker Thietten's poster, "We Have Always Looked up to 'Her' " was among the winning posters the Women's Diversity Working Group selected as part of a Women's History Month poster contest. A list of poster contest winners can be found at http://ext.lanl.gov/orgs/dvo/wdwg/posters.html online. Posters will be on display through the end of the month in the Santa Clara Gallery on the second floor of the Study Center. More information about Women's History Month at the Lab also can be found at http://ext.lanl.gov/orgs/dvo/wdwg/March1999.html online. Photos by Ed Vigil |
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