Highlights for May 30 - June 3, 2005

Office of Independent Oversight and Performance Assurance

Sandia National Laboratories-New Mexico (SNL-NM) Combined Inspection: A briefing to the Administrator, NNSA, was conducted this week (May 31) regarding the results of the inspections recently conducted at SNL-NM.

Office of Safeguards and Security Evaluations (OA-10)

Transportation of Classified Parts to the Waste Isolation Pilot Project (WIPP) Special Review: OA management is reviewing the inspection plan with lines of inquiry and inspection methodology. A special review of the protection afforded classified parts shipped from DOE sites to WIPP located in Carlsbad, NM, is scheduled. A planning meeting will be conducted at WIPP. 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, and performance testing, report writing, and close out activities are scheduled.

Y-12 National Security Complex (Y-12) Safeguards and Security Comprehensive Inspection: Inspection topical teams began developing report appendices. Preparations continued for force-on-force performance testing, additional data collection activities, report writing, and validation and close out activities. This inspection is part of a combined OA-10 and OA-20 inspection.

Design Basis Threat (DBT) Site Assistance Visits (SAVs): Participated in meetings to prepare for briefings with the House Energy and Water Committee staff scheduled for June 6 regarding the 2004 DBT policy development and implementation. SAV activities are planned for Sandia National Laboratories (SNL), the Tonopah Test Range, and Hanford. The objective of the SAVs is to identify protection strategies and technologies to effectively implement the revised DBT.

Sandia National Laboratories-New Mexico (SNL-NM) Safeguards and Security Comprehensive Inspection: The inspection report was approved and was distributed this week (May 30 - June 3). A preliminary corrective action plan is now due to OA by June 26. 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): OA-10 continued its participation with the Office of Security (SO), the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), and Energy, Science, and Environment (ESE) in reviews of the S&S order and associated manuals. Reviews are scheduled to continue throughout the month of June.

Safeguards and Security Lessons-Learned Report: Development of the lessons learned report continued. A meeting has been scheduled to develop a timeline for the completion of the report. 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 with the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC): Activities continued this week to obtain a copy of the Bilateral Agreement between the United States and the CNSC which outlines the parameters for the sharing of classified nuclear security threat and vulnerability information. If the existing agreement is found to be inadequate to support the intended interactions, OA-10 will work with the CNSC to develop a suitable agreement. Representatives of CNSC have been invited to observe a DOE sponsored force-on-force exercise in August.

Composite Adversary Team (CAT) Training: Preparations continued in support of the CAT training to be conducted. CAT training is part of a continuing effort intended to enhance CAT tactical capabilities and weapons familiarity. A second CAT training event is scheduled. 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 to be conducted. 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.

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 (Western) Cyber Security Inspection Corrective Action Plan (CAP): Comments on the interim CAP were provided to Western this week (May 31-June 3). The final CAP is now due June 17.

Power Marketing Administration Consolidated Report: The final report is scheduled to be presented to the Deputy Secretary next week (June 6-10. The report summarizes the status of cyber security programs at the four DOE Power Administrations (PAs) based on cyber security appraisals conducted from August 2004 to March 2005. The report provides insight into the cyber security protection programs of these critical infrastructure sites and identifies crosscutting issues.

Office of Emergency Management Oversight (OA-30)

National Response Assets Inspection Planning: Arrangements continued to observe a national response exercise at a Department of Defense (DoD) facility. A final planning meeting is scheduled. 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. Activities include management of the exercise controllers (establishing and staffing a DOE Control Cell) and managing Program Office evaluators. The alternate OA COOP Coordinator, Darryl Toms, will provide support to OA-1 during exercise play.

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

Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) Emergency Management Inspection: The inspection report was approved and was distributed this week (May 30 - June 3). A preliminary corrective action plan is now due to OA by June 26. This inspection was part of a combined OA-10, OA-20, and OA-30 inspection.

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

Y-12 National Security Complex ES&H Inspection: Onsite scooping activities were conducted at Y-12 this week (June 1-2). Onsite planning activities are scheduled.

Idaho National Laboratory (INL) ES&H Inspection: Onsite data collection, validation and closeout activities are scheduled.

Worker Vapor Exposure and Occupational Medicine Allegations at the Hanford Site Follow-Up: Validation/closeout activities are scheduled.

Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) ES&H Inspection: The site and program office now have until next week (June 6) to provide comments on the draft final report. A briefing was conducted with Environment, Safety, and Health this week (May 31) to discuss inspection findings.

Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management (OCRWM) Special Review: A briefing was conducted with the Directors, SSA and OA, and the Deputy Director, OCRWM, this week (June 3) regarding the results of this special review. On March 17, the Deputy Director, Office of Strategy and Program Development, OCRWM, requested an independent review of the concerns regarding 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 next week.

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.