Highlights for April 8-13, 2002

Final preparations were made for the on-site data collection activities at Pantex in support of the on-going comprehensive inspection. Inspection closeout is scheduled for the end of the data collection activities.

Interviews were conducted as part of the Personnel Security Consistency Special Review. Preparation of the draft special review report will begin April 29.

Preparations for the RFETS comprehensive inspection continued with the drafting of the inspection plan and logistical coordination.

Approximately half of the previously distributed cyber security inspection reports have been entered onto the master hard drive. Once they are all on the hard drive, beta testing of the OA report search engine will proceed.

Actions continue for developing a mechanism to ship classified draft reports to Eagle/Columbus and expedite the inspection report preparation process.

Still awaiting a response from the SAPOC on the latest revisions to the SAP Inspection Implementation Plan.

OA-20 completed a cyber security assessment of a petroleum pipeline distribution system, as part of a Departmental pilot, to identify vulnerabilities associated with the national energy critical infrastructure. OA-20 is working with the Office of Energy Assurance on this initiative. A report is being developed to document the assessment.

OA-20 continues to prepare for an inspection of the Office of Amarillo Site Operations and Pantex Plant.

OA-20 is developing a project plan that describes the scope and schedule for a special review of SecureNet, a classified network, which supports inter-site processing among National Nuclear Security Agency sites.

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. Weekly conference calls are occurring to coordinate supplemental document request and inspection plan development. The OA team leader attended 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.

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 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.

OA-50 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 and DNFSB Staff on the modification to DOE Order 470.2A to reflect transfer of ES&H from EH to OA and RevCom process has been initiated. The comment period for submission of consolidated comments through the LPSO on the draft 470.2B ended on February 23.

On-site data collection for the LANL inspection, a combined inspection with OA-30, was completed on March 28. The team drafted the report and a QRB was completed. The team returned to the site on April 9 for validation and closeout.

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 Argonne National Laboratory-East (ANL-E) inspection is a combined review with the OA-30 Director leading the review. The ANL-E Evaluation Plan has been issued.

A scoping memorandum for the LLNL inspection was issued and a meeting was conducted with LLNL and OAK on April 9 to complete planning activities for the scoping visit. The scoping team will arrive on site April 16 for the 3-day visit.

Office of Safeguards and Security Evaluations (OA-10)

The draft LLNL inspection report has been edited and provided to management for approval.

Provided an accounting of costs associated with the implementation of the OA classified network implementation plan in response to recently identified installation issues to OA-40.

Assisted OA-40 in the development of a procedure for the destruction of unclassified sensitive information contained on computing assets.

Completed a quarterly update of OA High Risk Program data for CN-1.

Reviewed draft DOE O 461.1A, "Packaging, Transfer and Transportation of Material of National Security Interest," and DOE M 474.1-1B, "Control and Accounting for Nuclear Materials," and provided comments to management for approval.

A trip report documenting the observation at Oak Ridge National Laboratory was finalized and distributed on April 10.

OA-30 returned to Los Alamos National Laboratory for factual accuracy validation of the Independent Oversight Inspection of Environment, Safety, and Health and Emergency Management reports. A closeout briefing with senior site managers was conducted on April 11.

The Hanford Inspection of ES&H report was issued on March 27, 2002, and EM and EH senior managers have been briefed. The team leader provided insights to EM-5 staff on an EM-1 memorandum to field elements regarding the results. The Corrective Action Plan is due May 28.

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