Highlights for March 24 – 28, 2003

Office of Safeguards and Security Evaluations (OA-10)

DOE Management Challenges: OA-10 is providing support for the development of corrective actions to address safeguards and security shortcomings that have been identified in recent GAO and IG reports.

Savannah River Site (SRS) Comprehensive Inspection: Site comments on the draft report are due March 27 and then the report will be finalized. Expected completion date is April 15.

Argonne National Laboratory-East (ANL-E) Comprehensive Inspection: On-site planning activities have been completed and data collection activities have been scheduled.

Hanford/PNNL Comprehensive Inspection: The on-site scoping visit has been completed and data gathered during the visit will be incorporated into the inspection plan as appropriate.

CMPC Special Reviews: Preparations continue for the next review, which will take place in April at DOE-CH and Argonne National Laboratory-West (ANL-W).

GAO Reviews: OA-10 met with GAO staff to discuss the results of two reviews recently conducted by the GAO to determine the effectiveness of NNSA in addressing security issues.

Lessons Learned Report: Development of OA-10’s input for the 2002 lessons learned report for safeguards and security continues.

Security Awareness Workshop: Members of OA-10 management and staff will be presenting a briefing on OA’s inspection process and lessons learned to the Security Awareness Workshop on April 1, 2003 in Atlanta.

Protective Force (PF): Internal review of proposed rules of engagement for force-on-force exercises continues, as does work on a rating concept for the PF topic.

CAT training: Members of OA management and staff will begin preliminary site planning activities for semi-annual CAT training to be conducted in June.

Perimeter Scanning Project: OA-20 personnel in partnership with the Office of the Chief Information Officer have initiated a special study (Perimeter Scanning Project) to map out and characterize DOE’s network perimeter. As part of this initiative, OA-20 is also offering to scan DOE networks for vulnerabilities in order that line management can address weaknesses. This effort is being undertaken to improve the Department’s protection posture. Testing has been completed for 33 DOE sites. Testing is currently ongoing at four additional sites.

Unannounced Cyber Security Penetration Testing: OA-20 has developed a draft protocol for the conduct of unannounced penetration testing of DOE computer systems. The protocol is undergoing internal office review.

Cyber Security Inspection at the Argonne National Laboratory – East (ANL-E): OA-20 conducted the initial portion of the inspection during the week of March 17. Headquarters interviews were conducted the week of March 24. Subsequent onsite inspection activities have been scheduled.

Cyber Security Inspection of the Hanford Site and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory: OA-20 conducted a scoping and initial data collection visit at the Hanford Site and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory during the week of March 24. This is part of a combined Safeguards and Security and Cyber Security Inspection. Team members will return to the Hanford Site and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory for additional data collection activities.

Summary Report: OA-30 is developing an approach for a "Summary Report of Emergency Management Program Status." Inspection data collected from 2000-2002 is being reviewed and analyzed. The results will provide the status of key sites since the OA 1999 follow-up report, identify opportunities for improvement, and provide insights for future inspection activities.

East Tennessee Technology Park Inspection: OA-30 and OA-50 continue to plan for an inspection of the East Tennessee Technology Park. The inspection plan was issued this week. A planning meeting for tabletop performance tests is scheduled.

Pantex Plant Inspection: A corrective action plan was due on February 28. The NNSA site office is in the process of resolving their comments on the site contractors’ corrective actions and will soon forward an approved plan.

Sandia National Laboratory-NM Inspection: The site has provided factual accuracy comments to OA and the final report is being prepared for publication.

Y-12 National Security Complex Inspection: The team completed onsite inspection activities.

ETTP Inspection: Planning and coordination activities continue. ES&H aspects of the inspection plan are being developed based on operational analyses, results of previous oversight evaluations and investigations, and information obtained during the scoping visit.

INEEL Inspection: A combined ES&H and Emergency Management inspection has been scheduled. A kickoff conference call with site management has been scheduled for March 27. The Director of OA-50 will participate in the call along with the Director of OA-30.

DOE Occupant Emergency Plan: The DOE Occupant Emergency Plan (OEP) team meeting, previously scheduled for March 20, was rescheduled for Thursday, March 27.

Occupant Emergency Plan: The OA OEP has been revised and readied for a review by all office directors. The changes primarily concentrate on updating evacuation plans to include assembly areas, inclusion of shelter in place activities and locations, and an improved evacuation route for some employees. In response to concerns raised about the absence of emergency lighting in the GB-096B office space, emergency exit lighting was installed last week.

OA employees received a bulletin about preparations that they can take in the event of a prolonged shelter in place incident. Also OA wardens were given a brief overview of their responsibilities in the event of an emergency.

The Sandia National Laboratories- California application for accreditation to the AAAHC was accepted and approved. The accreditation survey is scheduled for May 29-30, 2003.

A response is being drafted to IG-42 concerning allegations of ongoing nuclear, environmental and safety issues at the Fernald Environmental Management Project.

DOE Career Intern Program: On March 25, the OA-50 Director met with a DOE intern to discuss plans for a detail to OA-50. The intern will serve as a team member for one ES&H Inspection in FY 2003 and one in FY 2004.

Sandia National Laboratory-NM Inspection: OA-30 and OA-50 completed an inspection of Sandia National Laboratories, New Mexico. Site comments on the final draft report have been addressed and the report is undergoing final editing.

Headquarters’ Review: The final report of the "Independent Oversight Review of DOE Headquarters Emergency Response Plans and Performance" was issued on March 19. The report provides the results of OA’s special review of the Headquarters Occupant Emergency Plan, Emergency Response Plan, and current status of developing and implementing the Headquarters Continuity of Operations Plan.

Environment, Safety and Health Appraisal Process Guide: The guide has been approved and is posted on the OA homepage.

Lessons Learned Report: The report has been approved, distributed, and will be posted on the OA homepage.

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