Highlights for March 25 - 29, 2002

Office of Safeguards and Security Evaluations (OA-10)

The team is on-site for the data collection and planning activities at Pantex and personnel security data collection activities in Albuquerque. The team is scheduled to leave March 29.

Received the factual accuracy comments and preliminary CAP from LLNL and OAK. Initiated a review of the comments and CAPs. Technical editing of the LLNL report will begin the week of April 1.

Transmitted a memorandum to SO regarding a policy issue concerning unescorted foreign national access to property protection areas identified during the comprehensive inspection at LLNL.

Data collection activities continue at Albuquerque in support of the Personnel Security Special Review. The final field data collection activities to be conducted at the Savannah River Site are confirmed for April 1-5. Additional interviews will be conducted at Headquarters the week of April 8.

The draft presentation for an upcoming meeting of the ISSM working group has been provided to management for review and comment.

OA-20 participated in the planning meeting at the Pantex Plant from March 25 – 28, 2002.

OA-20 is conducting testing of Colonial Pipeline in support of the Emergency Operations Office, Critical Infrastructure Protection initiative.

OA-30 completed corrective action follow-up activities at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. OA-30 observed the annual emergency response exercise conducted on March 13 and line management self-assessment program activities conducted the week of March 18. A trip report documenting the observation results was faxed to the site on March 27 for validation.

The OA-30 Review of Headquarters Facility Emergency Response Plans was distributed March 26. The Office of Management, Budget, and Evaluation (ME) have offered to meet with OA to provide an update of actions taken to improve Headquarters facility readiness assurance.

OA-30 and OA-50 continue to plan for the combined Argonne National Laboratory-East inspection to be conducted in May 2002. Weekly conference calls are occurring to coordinate supplemental document request and inspection plan development. The OA team leader will attend a meeting with local stakeholders on April 10 to explain the OA role of independent oversight. Planning for emergency management performance tests will be conducted the week of April 15.

Staff within OA-50 has performed an analysis of the results of independent assessments of DOE environmental protection programs that have been conducted over the last several years. A draft analysis report has been developed to capture and communicate common strengths and weaknesses in the implementation of environmental monitoring, surveillance and control programs at DOE sites. Several policy issues affecting DOE environmental performance have also been identified. The draft analysis report was reviewed by the Office of Environmental Policy and Assistance (EH-41) and discussed during a meeting on March 7, 2002. The draft report is being revised.

Discussion continues between the Director of OA-50 and various site managers on the Augmentation Program.

Efforts are continuing to revise the ES&H Appraisal Process Guide to make it compatible with OA ES&H mission and directives including DOE O 470.2A and OA management directions. A draft report has been compiled and is being reviewed by OA-50 management.

OA-50 staff is continuing coordination activities with EH on ISM policies, guides, FRAM, QA Order, ORR Order, and AI Order.

OA-50 is reviewing comments provided by the LPSOs on the modification to DOE Order 470.2A to reflect transfer of ES&H from EH to OA. The comment period for submission of consolidated comments, using the RevCom process, through the LPSO ended on Feb 23^rd. The DNFSB staff is working on their response, and the Board members were involved in the response for this order.

Key team members of the Hanford Inspection of ES&H Management Team completed validation and close out on February 21. The report was issued on March 27, 2002. EH senior managers were briefed on the results on March 27 and a briefing is scheduled for EM.

The LANL inspection is a combined inspection with OA-30. The onsite data collection was initiated on March 18, 2002.

The OA-50 criticality expert continues to support/participate in the Criticality Safety Support Group (CSSG). Activities include guidance on critical experiments and interpretation of results.

The OA 50 staff is developing the ES&H portion of the Evaluation Plan for the Argonne National Laboratory-East (ANL-E) inspection. This is a combined review with the OA-30 Director leading the review.

Office of Safeguards and Security Evaluations (OA-10)

A meeting with SO staff and management was held to discuss OA comments on the Draft DOE O 473.1, Physical Protection Program and Draft DOE M 473.1-1, Physical Protection Program Manual.

Participated in a briefing to congressional members and staff regarding the efforts undertaken by the Department since the events of September 11, 2001.

Back to Weekly Highlights