May 23, 2001
Parking on Lab property
Q: What is the Laboratorys' policy for extended parking of privately owned vehicles on Laboratory property? It is my understanding that this is prohibited. Is there special person or special situation status that allows an individual to park his/her RV, car or truck on Lab property for extended periods? Extended period to me would be, say, anytime longer than one month because of Lab travel or other Lab business.
I am on a waiting list to rent a parking space on the Los Alamos County fenced lots for my RV. I have made other arrangements that cost me a certain amount a month to park my RV on someone else's property.
But every day I come to work I notice a privately owned RV
with a yellow New Mexico licence plate (54598rvy) parked in the
same spot at Ten Site (Technical Area 35) for over a year! (This
is evident from the bird nests in the grill, snow on the north
side and semi-flattened tires.) To whom does that particular RV
owner pay for the parking space and how much?
A: Thank you for taking the time to write regarding extended parking of privately owned vehicles on Laboratory property. Research has shown that individuals are not authorized to park for extended periods of time on Lab property. The parking policy can be found in AM 617, Section .05, which clearly states: "Note: Privately-owned vehicles must not be left unattended overnight on Laboratory or DOE property and are subject to removal by towing. Vehicles left parked for extended periods may be considered abandoned and are subject to seizure and disposal at public auction." I brought your question (and contents) to the attention of Mr. Horace (Bill) Sprouse, S-OSI (Office of Security Inquiries). Mr. Sprouse will check on the alleged camper and if it is still there, he will discuss the parking policy with the individual.
Again, thank you for taking the time to write. It is difficult for the Laboratory to be aware of everything that is occurring throughout the Laboratory site, but with your observation and conveying it to us, it has raised our awareness and the issue should be rectified in the very near future.
--Drusilla Price, Facility & Waste Operations (FWO) Division
Editor's Note: The vehicle in question was recently removed from the area.