Summary

Nuclear Security: Weak Internal Controls Hamper Oversight of DOE's Security Program

RCED-92-146  June 29, 1992

Full Report (PDF, 12 pages)   

The Department of Energy (DOE), overseer of the nation's nuclear weapons program, runs a broad range of plants and laboratories to carry out research, development, and production. Given the potentially devastating consequence of radiological sabotage or terrorism, tight security is a must at these facilities. Accordingly, DOE spends nearly $1 billion annually to protect them. GAO reviewed DOE's practice of granting exceptions to the agency's safeguards and security orders. Approved exceptions have ranged from exceptions to administration requirements, involving, for example, the labeling or marking of classified documents, to more substantive exceptions involving the inventory or storage of special nuclear materials. This report (1) cites the number of exceptions that have been approved, (2) determines whether DOE's written policies and procedures for reviewing and approving exceptions have been followed, and (3) describes the kind of internal control system used for monitoring and following up on individual exceptions.

Subject Terms

Atomic energy defense activities
Federal records management
Internal controls
Management information systems
Nuclear facility safety
Nuclear facility security
Nuclear proliferation
Sabotage
Safety standards
Terrorism
Homeland security