Highlights for May 23 - May 27, 2005

Office of Independent Oversight and Performance Assurance

Sandia National Laboratories-New Mexico (SNL-NM) Combined Inspection: A briefing to the Administrator, NNSA, is scheduled for next week (May 31) regarding the results of the inspections recently conducted at SNL-NM. All OA Office Directors will be in attendance.

Office of Safeguards and Security Evaluations (OA-10)

Transportation of Classified Parts to the Waste Isolation Pilot Project (WIPP) Special Review: Development of an inspection plan with lines of inquiry and inspection methodology continued. A special review of the protection afforded classified parts shipped from DOE sites to WIPP located in Carlsbad, NM, is scheduled to be conducted. A planning meeting will be conducted at WIPP in August. A final report will be issued in December 2005.

Nevada Test Site (NTS) Safeguards and Security Comprehensive Inspection: Preparation of the announcement letter and resource list for the combined OA-10 and -20 inspection continued. Onsite inspection planning, data collection, performance testing, report writing, and close out activities are scheduled.

Design Basis Threat (DBT) Site Assistance Visits (SAVs): Additional SAV activities are scheduled to be conducted at the Sandia National Laboratories - New Mexico (SNL NM), Tonopah Test Range (TTR), Nevada, and the Hanford Site. Dates are yet to be determined. The objective of the SAVs is to identify protection strategies and technologies to effectively implement the revised DBT.

Y-12 National Security Complex (Y-12) Safeguards and Security Comprehensive Inspection: Force-on-force performance testing, additional data collection activities, report writing, and validation and close out activities are scheduled. This inspection is part of a combined OA-10 and OA-20 inspection.

Sandia National Laboratories-New Mexico (SNL-NM) Safeguards and Security Comprehensive Inspection: The inspection report was approved and is scheduled to be distributed next week (May 30 - June 3). This inspection was part of a combined OA-10, OA-20, and OA-30 inspection.

Streamlined Safeguards and Security (S&S) Directives Quality Review Boards (QRB): The first QRBs of the streamlined S&S directives were conducted this week. OA-10 participated along with the Office of Security (SO), the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), and Energy, Science, and Environment (ESE) in reviews of the S&S program order and reference manual, and the Personnel Security manual. Reviews of the remaining five manuals will be conducted throughout the month of June.

Safeguards and Security Lessons-Learned Report: The revision of the lessons learned report in response to management review continued. The report is expected to be completed by May 31. The report is based on past safeguard and security inspection results, and identifies positive attributes, areas needing improvement, and best practices. The final report is scheduled to be distributed to ESE and NNSA security managers by early June.

Reciprocal Agreement to Share Classified Information: Activities continued this week to obtain a copy of the Bilateral Agreement between the United States and the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) which outlines the parameters for the sharing of classified nuclear security threat and vulnerability information. Representatives of CNSC have been invited to observe a DOE sponsored force-on-force exercise in August.

Composite Adversary Team (CAT) Training: Preparations continued this week by inspecting and test firing all weapons in support of the CAT training to be conducted at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL). CAT training is part of a continuing effort intended to enhance CAT tactical capabilities and weapons familiarity. A second CAT training event is scheduled for December. The location for the December training has not been determined.

Office of Cyber Security Evaluations (OA-20)

Y-12 National Security Complex (Y-12) Classified Cyber Security Inspection: Onsite data collection activities are scheduled. The technical assessment protocol has been developed. This is part of a combined inspection with OA 10.

Continuous Network Scanning Program: DOE sites identified during the perimeter scanning project are being added to the scanning program as points of contact are established and IP ranges are verified. Additional sites will be incorporated into the program over the next several months. This program is being conducted in support of the Secretary's Security Initiatives.

Sandia National Laboratories-New Mexico (SNL-NM) Safeguards and Security Comprehensive Inspection: The final inspection report was prepared for management review this week (May 23-27). The scope of the cyber inspection included SNL operations in New Mexico and California. This inspection was conducted as a part of a combined OA-10, OA-20, and OA-30 inspection.

South-Eastern Power Administration (SEPA) Cyber Security Inspection Corrective Action Plan (CAP): An interim CAP is due from SEPA in mid-June.

Western Area Power Administration (WAPA) Cyber Security Inspection Corrective Action Plan (CAP): An interim CAP was received and is under review.

Department of Energy Architecture Repository (DEAR) Software Application Special Review Corrective Action Plan (CAP): A security review of the DEAR software application, managed by the OCIO, was performed in response to concerns raised by the National Treasury Employee Union (NTEU).

Office of Emergency Management Oversight (OA-30)

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) Emergency Management Inspection: Onsite data collection activities are scheduled.

Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) Emergency Management Inspection: Comments on the final draft report have been resolved. The Office of Emergency Operations (NA-40) was briefed this week on the results of the inspection. A briefing for the Administrator, NNSA, (NA-1), is scheduled to be conducted next week (May 31).

National Response Assets Inspection Planning: Arrangements continued to observe a national response exercise at a Department of Defense (DoD) facility in August. An inspection plan will be developed in coordination with the Office of Emergency Operations (NA-40) in support of the Radiological Assistance Program inspection.

Continuity of Operations (COOP) Exercise Support: OA-30 will coordinate available OA resources in support of the upcoming COOP Exercise scheduled for the week of June 6. Activities include filling gaps for controllers and evaluators, facilitating training for SSA and OA staff assigned to the DOE COOP "Relocation Support Group," and updating the OA COOP Plan and brief management and staff on performance expectations.

Office of Environment, Safety, and Health (ES&H) Evaluations (OA-40)

Worker Vapor Exposure and Occupational Medicine Allegations at the Hanford Site Follow-Up: Planning activities continued for a follow-up review of the April 2004 investigation. Onsite data collection and validation/closeout activities are scheduled. Discussions this week focused on site training requirements and logistics needed to access the tank farm work areas and specific documentation needed during the data collection visit.

Idaho National Laboratory (INL) ES&H Inspection: Onsite planning activities were conducted this week (May 23-27) in support of onsite data collection activities scheduled to begin on June 6.

Y-12 National Security Complex ES&H Inspection: A weekly conference call was held with the site to discuss the upcoming scooping visit scheduled.

Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) ES&H Inspection: The site and program office now have until June 6 to provide comments on the draft final report. A briefing was provided to the Office of Science this week (May 27). Breifings are scheduled with Environment, Safety, and Health next week (May 31).

Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management (OCRWM) Special Review: Final report development continued. On March 17, the Deputy Director, Office of Strategy and Program Development, OCRWM, requested an independent review of the concerns regarding alleged retaliation and discrimination within the OCRWM QA organization.

Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) Environment, Safety, and Health Management Inspection: Review of the comments provided by the site on the draft final report have been completed and the report is undergoing the final editing process prior to publication.

Pantex Plant (Pantex) ES&H Inspection Corrective Action Plan (CAP): The contractor portion is expected during the first week of June.

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) ES&H Inspection Corrective Action Plan (CAP): The memorandum with comments on the CAP is undergoing management review.

ES&H Lessons Learned Reports: Development of the Unreviewed Safety Question Process lessons learned report continued. Six additional focus areas are being evaluated as part of the ES&H inspections being conducted during CY 2005.

Draft Oversight Order 226.1: Continued to participate in meetings and conference calls to support the 2004-1 Implementation Plan working group. Most of the organizations have provided feedback to OA through the Directive POCs on the proposed responses.