Los Alamos celebrates anniversary amid questions over contract

LOS ALAMOS, N.M. -- Los Alamos National Laboratory celebrated its 60th anniversary Tuesday amid uncertainty over who will end up running the birthplace of the atomic bomb in the years to come.

A parade of speakers -- from National Nuclear Security Administration head Linton Brooks to Gov. Bill Richardson, a former energy secretary -- commended the weapons facility for decades of cutting-edge science.

"Los Alamos owes its existence to a marriage of science and the fighting spirit of America," Brooks said.

However, the lab that grew out of the secret World War II Manhattan Project is now fighting to save its 60-year management contract with the University of California. A review of the contract requested by Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham is expected to be completed next week.

At the heart of the review are management, purchasing and inventory problems at the lab.

Allegations of weak financial oversight, costly cases of equipment theft and financial fraud arose late last year. The laboratory also was criticized for firing two investigators. Several lab officials have resigned or been demoted or fired in recent months.

UC president Richard Atkinson said the university "cannot escape the experience of the last few months," but said the reality is that Los Alamos employees are committed to their scientific and national security mission.

With management improvements the lab and university are instituting, "I'm confident that we will get to where we need to go," Atkinson said.