The sessions, which are open to the public, stem from the notice of proposed rulemaking concerning polygraph examinations that the Department of Energy published in the Federal Register on Aug. 18. Requests to present and comments were due Wednesday. Each presentation is limited to five minutes to ensure that all persons have an opportunity to speak. Only those who have requested time will be allowed to speak during the hearing.
More information also is available in an all-employee memo.
Pending legislation would end most visits to the Laboratory by foreign nationals from sensitive countries for an undefined period, Laboratory Director John Browne told employees at a special town-hall meeting on Wednesday. Foreign nationals from sensitive countries who now work at the Laboratory and have approved status as assignees or employees won't be affected by the legislation, which is part of Senate Bill S1059, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2000. For at least three months after the legislation is enacted, new foreign nationals from sensitive countries won't have access to the Laboratory. The law will require successful completion of an audit of Los Alamos' Foreign Visits and Assignments program. The Laboratory is in compliance with all of these requirements, but DOE Secretary Bill Richardson and the directors of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Central Intelligence Agency all must formally certify that compliance.