Los Alamos, N.M.
The Energy Department wants to move tons of weapons-grade plutonium and uranium out of the Los Alamos National Laboratory to keep it safe from terrorists, according to internal documents. In mock attacks, U.S. commandos have twice broken through Los Alamos’ security protection and grabbed plutonium and other nuclear materials. The government is studying the environmental ramifications of transferring the stockpile to the Nevada Test Site, a military installation 90 miles from Las Vegas. Even administration critics praised the idea. “Al Qaida terrorists are fully capable of taking advantage of poor security,” said Rep. Edward Markey (D-Mass.).
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