Highlights for September 8-12, 2003

Activities Underway

Office of Safeguards and Security Evaluations (OA-10)

Sandia National Laboratories – New Mexico (SNL-NM) Comprehensive Safeguards and Security Inspection: Planning activities have been completed for the first site visit. Headquarters interviews and initial report preparations will be completed prior to the subsequent scheduled on-site visits.

Y-12 Comprehensive Safeguards and Security Inspection: Preparations continue in support of the force-on-force exercise and the initial on-site phase of this inspection.

Special Review of Protective Force Management and Capabilities: Review activities will begin in conjunction with the Y-12 inspection in November. Additional activities are planned for three other facilities beginning in January and ending by mid-April 2004.

Classified Matter Protection and Control Special Reviews: The next special review will be conducted at LANL.

Nuclear Material Accounting Steering Committee: Work continues to resolve questions by the Assistant Secretaries concerning how to realize savings by combining the current materials tracking systems.

Explosives Data Base: An explosives database containing information regarding the effectiveness of various types of explosives against barrier materials is being developed as a result of training conducted previously. This database will be updated on a periodic basis. Compilation of the initial database is scheduled for completion by September 15.

Office of Cyber Security Evaluations (OA-20)

Perimeter Scanning Project: OA-20 personnel, in partnership with the Office of the Chief Information Officer, are conducting a special study (Perimeter Scanning Project) to map out and characterize DOE’s network perimeter. This effort is being undertaken 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. All anticipated testing agreements have been signed. Testing has been completed for 52 DOE/NNSA sites. Testing at two sites cannot be completed using established project methodologies due to the deployment of blocking technologies at those sites. Testing of the final site is scheduled to begin next week. A final project report will be issued this fall.

Annual Independent Evaluation of Classified Information System Security: As assigned by DOE Order 205.1, and as required by the Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA), OA is preparing an annual evaluation of the DOE classified information system security program. The draft report has been issued for review and comment to the DOE/NNSA program offices.

Cyber Security Inspection at the Sandia National Laboratories-New Mexico: OA-20 is conducting planning activities for the upcoming inspection at SNL-NM. Site cyber security program documents have been received and are under review and an inspection plan has been prepared.

Office of Emergency Management Oversight (OA-30)

Inspection of the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (INEEL): OA-30 and OA-50 have completed validation and closeout activities for the combined environment, safety, and health and emergency management inspection. Comments from the site on the final draft report are due on September 19.

Office of Secure Transportation (OST) Emergency Management Inspection: Planning for this inspection has been initiated with OST in Albuquerque to support the scheduled scoping and data collection visits.

Inspection of the Oak Ridge Operations Office and East Tennessee Technology Park: OA has received and is reviewing the final corrective action plan (CAP) for the environment, safety, and health and emergency management findings identified in the subject inspection report. In accordance with DOE Order 470.2B, a response to the CAP will be provided within 30 calendar days.

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

Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory Inspection: Report writing and Quality Review Board activities were conducted August 25-29. Validation and closeout activities were completed on September 4. The site has been provided a draft copy of the report for factual accuracy validation.

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Inspection: Preparations have started for conducting an ES&H evaluation at PNNL. The scoping visit was completed on September 10-12. A detailed evaluation plan will be developed to guide the scheduled onsite data collection.

Yucca Mountain Management Assessment: Preparations have started for conducting the assessment. A scoping visit was completed August 19-20 and a plan is being developed. The team leader met with RW-2 to discuss the assessment on September 3.

Nevada Test Site Special Review of the Work for Others Program: Preparations have started for conducting the special review. A scoping visit was completed August 21-22 and a plan is being developed.

Comments on DOE Guide G 424.1-1, Implementation Guide For Use In Addressing Unreviewed Safety Question Requirements: Comments and recommended changes to the guide have been developed based on OA observations of several years regarding the application of the USQ process. The comments were provided to EH and a meeting was held on September 11 to further discuss this topic.

Department of Energy Career Intern Program: An intern with the DOE Career Intern Program is on detail to OA-50 to gain first-hand knowledge of the ES&H independent oversight process. The intern’s permanent assignment is with the NNSA Los Alamos Site Office.

Activities Completed

All OA Offices

All OA staff participated in an offsite symposium on September 8-9. The purpose of the symposium was to develop ideas to improve OA oversight processes and increase the value of the oversight program. Several senior Department managers, including the Deputy Secretary of Energy and NNSA Administrator, spoke at the symposium.

Office of Safeguards and Security Evaluations (OA-10)

Policy Update: A meeting was held with the SO Director of Policy to discuss the current directives regarding clandestine listening and video devices.

Oversight Policy: Participated in a meeting with the DNFSB staff to discuss the draft oversight policy that is under development. Briefing Oversight Results to Congress: Provided an additional briefing to Congressman Shays’ staff on the results of the SNL-NM special review.

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

The Director OA-50 and OA-10 attended a DNFSB Public Hearing regarding oversight. The hearing included presentations by representatives from Naval Reactors and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission regarding their oversight processes.

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