DOE IG RAPS LIVERMORE FOR ACCESS CONTROL AT EXPLOSIVES FACILITY

An explosives research facility at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory failed to control access to its explosive operations area, according to a Department of Energy Inspector General report issued Friday. Investigating allegations that the lab hadn’t controlled access to the High Explosives Applications Facility (HEAF), and the IG found lab officials had been lax in limiting access to the facility, allowing individuals to access the facility’s operations area without specific authorization or safety training. The individuals had “high-level security clearances” but were granted unescorted access to explosives workrooms even though they “did not have an official need or the additional training required for unescorted access into the workrooms.” The IG also found that the lab’s safety training didn’t cover unescorted access to HEAF explosive workrooms and the lab lacked a system for tracking and accounting for the explosives stored at the facility. “The issues identified in this report regarding potential unauthorized access occurred, in part, because officials did not adequately consider the risks associated with access to the facility and the increased potential for theft or diversion of explosives,” the IG said. The NNSA said it agreed with the IG’s findings and said it was working to develop a corrective action plan for the issues.