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Abraham orders halt to use of CREM across DOE

The use of classified removable electronic media, or CREM, has been halted across the Department of Energy complex by DOE Secretary Spencer Abraham. He ordered the suspension of CREM use last Friday while DOE facilities review and improve procedures for protecting such media.

Of the DOE's 59 sites nationwide, less than half use classified electronic media.

"I directed Deputy Secretary McSlarrow and NNSA Administrator Brooks, in addition to their review of the problems at Los Alamos National Lab, to provide me any recommendations for improving the security of CREM at other DOE facilities," Abraham said.

"The situation at [Los Alamos] suggests that we must minimize the risk of human error or malfeasance to a much greater extent. Thus, while we have no evidence that the problems currently being investigated are present elsewhere, we have a responsibility to take all necessary action to prevent such problems from occurring at all," Abraham continued. "Therefore, I have directed that we stand-down all operations involving so-called controlled removable electronic media until such time as a site or facility conducts appropriate training, reviews security procedures, ensures complete and accountable custodial responsibility and arranges for a complete inventory.

"These procedures are designed to guarantee a complete inventory of our classified electronic holdings and make certain that specific individuals can be held responsible and accountable for future problems," said Abraham.

To read the DOE news release, click here.

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