Highlights for November 17 - 21, 2003

Activities Underway

Office of Safeguards and Security Evaluations (OA-10)

Sandia National Laboratory - New Mexico (SNL-NM) Comprehensive Safeguards and Security Inspection: Technical edit of the report was completed and will be distribution next week. The results of this inspection have identified concerns with security management and practices at SNL-NM and Congressional interest is high. Staff members from Senator Grassley and Congressman Shays observed some of the inspection activities during the week of October 13.

Y-12 Comprehensive Safeguards and Security Inspection: Onsite data collection was conducted this week. Force-on-force performance testing will be included as part of this inspection.

Protective Force Management and Capabilities (PFMC) Special Review: Onsite data collection activities continued this week at Y-12. Resource planning for performance testing at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) is ongoing. The results of this special review may identify issues that are impacting overall PF performance.

Classified Matter Protection and Control (CMPC) Special Review: The reports summarizing the results of the Headquarters, LANL and Y-12 reviews have been sent to site representatives for factual accuracy review. Comments are due the week of December 8.

Office of Cyber Security Evaluations (OA-20)

Perimeter Scanning Project: The final report is under development. This special study is being conducted in partnership with the Office of the Chief Information Officer to map out and characterize the DOE network perimeter. The effort is being undertaken to establish a baseline understanding of the magnitude and make-up of DOE computer systems exposed to the Internet in order to improve the Department's protection posture.

Y-12 Plant Cyber Security Inspection: A second visit to the Y-12 Plant in Oak Ridge, TN was conducted this week.

Office of Emergency Management Oversight (OA-30)

Office of Secure Transportation (OST) Emergency Management Inspection: The final draft report was distributed to NNSA program offices and OST. Comments on the final draft report are due November 25. The final report will be issued in December. This inspection evaluated how effectively OST has prepared for and is capable of responding to a simulated accident as well as assess OST emergency management program elements.

Savannah River Site (SRS) Combined ES&H and Emergency Management Inspection: Scoping and data collection visits are scheduled.

HQ Continuity of Operations (COOP) Exercise: Preparations are underway for participation in the scheduled COOP Exercise. It is planned to observe other "critical essential function" programs during the exercise in order to prepare for the multi-agency COOP Exercise scheduled for 2004. Coordination with SO-40 is ongoing for the 2004 exercise.

Office of Environment, Safety and Health Evaluations (OA-50)

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) ES&H Inspection: Onsite data collection was completed this week. Validation and closeout activities are scheduled.

Office of Repository Development (ORD) Management Assessment: The final report has been issued. A meeting was held at the request of the Deputy Director, ORD to discuss the results of the assessment with three representatives of the GAO. A briefing with the Director, Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management (RW) is scheduled. This assessment of the ORD at Yucca Mountain was conducted at the request of the site manager.

Nevada Test Site (NTS) Special Review of the Work for Others Program: Comments on the draft report have been received and are being incorporated into the final report. This special review of the NTS Work for Others Program was conducted at the request of the NTS site manager.

Savannah River Site (SRS) ES&H and Emergency Management Inspection: Scoping and data collection visits are scheduled.

Activities Completed

Office of Safeguards and Security Evaluations (OA-10)

Hanford/PNNL Corrective Action Plans: An advance copy of the initial Corrective Action Plan has been reviewed. EM-1 approved the plan on November 18.

Office of Environment, Safety and Health Evaluations (OA-50)

Meeting with the ORNL ES&H Manager: A meeting with the ORNL ES&H manager was held on November 19. The topics were general and included the inspection scheduled for next year.