Highlights for December 1 - 5, 2003

Activities Underway

Office of Safeguards and Security Evaluations (OA-10)

Y-12 Comprehensive Safeguards and Security Inspection: Onsite preparations continued this week in support of performance testing. Onsite testing is scheduled. Y-12 has been the subject of several local news articles regarding security over the past three months.

Protective Force Management and Capabilities (PFMC) Special Review: Resource planning continues for the LLNL phase. A notification memorandum has been dispatched to LLNL. Onsite preparation and data collection visits are scheduled. The results of this special review may identify issues that impact overall protective force performance.

Classified Matter Protection and Control (CMPC) Special Review: 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. Corrective action plans from LLNL, NV, SNL-NM and NNSA/SC have been received and reviewed. Response to these plans are scheduled be forwarded the week of December 8.

Office of Cyber Security Evaluations (OA-20)

Perimeter Scanning Project: The final report is under development. This special study was conducted in partnership with the Office of the Chief Information Officer, to map out and characterize the DOE network perimeter as well as 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: The draft inspection report is being developed. Onsite validation and factual accuracy review activities are scheduled.

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) Cyber Security Inspection: Planning is underway for an assessment of the classified cyber security program at LLNL. An onsite preparation visit is scheduled.

Office of Emergency Management Oversight (OA-30)

Office of Secure Transportation (OST) Emergency Management Inspection: OST comments on the final draft report are being reviewed. The final report will be issued in December. The results of the inspection have been briefed to Dr. Beckner and Ambassador Brooks. The Deputy Secretary has requested to be kept informed of the NNSA/OST Corrective Action Plans. 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: Onsite scoping and data collection visits are scheduled.

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

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

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) ES&H Inspection: Onsite validation of the draft final report and closeout activities were completed this week. Comments are due by December 19.

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: Preparations continue for the combined ES&H and Emergency Management inspection. Onsite scoping and data collection visits are scheduled.

Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) ES&H Inspection: Contact was initiated with the NE program office to discuss plans for the ES&H inspection at ORNL. An onsite scoping visit is scheduled.

Activities Completed

Office of Safeguards and Security Evaluations (OA-10)

Sandia National Laboratories - New Mexico (SNL-NM) Comprehensive Safeguards and Security Inspection: Results of the SNL-NM inspection were briefed to Congressman Shays' staff on December 2, 2003.

Hanford/PNNL Corrective Action Plans: Response to the initial corrective action plan has been dispatched.

DNFSB Meeting: Attended the DNFSB public hearing on DOE Safety Oversight. The hearings included a discussion of the proposed DOE Oversight Policy, which will establish principles for safety; safeguards and security; cyber security; and emergency management oversight.

DOE IG Investigation: Attended a briefing on the results of the IG's investigation of force-on-force exercises at Y-12.

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

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) was conducted on December 2. This assessment of the ORD at Yucca Mountain was conducted at the request of the site manager.