Highlights for October 27 - 31, 2003

Activities Underway

Office of Safeguards and Security Evaluations (OA-10)

Sandia National Laboratory - New Mexico (SNL-NM) Comprehensive Safeguards and Security Inspection: Inspection activities, including extensive performance testing, have been completed. An out-briefing, summarizing inspection results, and a draft report were provided to the site on October 24. Comments are due November 10. The results of this inspection have identified concerns with security management and practices at SNL-NM and Congressional interest is high. Staff members from Senator Grassley and Congressman Shays observed some of the inspection activities during the week of October 13.

Y-12 Comprehensive Safeguards and Security Inspection: Preparations continue for the Y-12 inspection and force-on-force performance testing. The inspection plan and the document request list were approved by management and distributed to the site. Onsite planning and data collection activities have been scheduled.

Hanford/PNNL Corrective Action Plans: The draft corrective action plans were due September 4, and the final plans were due October 4. The Office of Environmental Management (EM) Security Director informed OA on October 29 that he expected EM management to approve the plans this week.

Special Review of Protective Force Management and Capabilities (PFMC): Data collection at SNL-NM is complete. Inspection activities at Y-12 will be used to support the special review. Planning for data collection activities after the first of the year are ongoing.

Special Reviews of Classified Matter Protection and Control (CMPC): The Headquarters review will begin in November. The draft report from that review along with those from the LANL and Y-12 reviews will undergo an internal OA review on November 10.

Policy for the Classification of Sigma Information: At the direction of the Deputy Secretary, a working group has been established to review the current policy for the classification of Sigma information. OA staff members continued to provide input to address inquiries from members of the working group. Draft responses to various tasks associated with the working group were reviewed.

Special Access Program Oversight Committee (SAPOC) Annual Report: Preparation of the annual report to the SAPOC was initiated. A dry run of the briefing on the results of SAP reviews will be conducted with OA-1 on November 3. The annual report and briefing will be presented to the SAPOC November 14.

Office of Cyber Security Evaluations (OA-20)

Perimeter Scanning Project: In partnership with the Office of the Chief Information Officer (CIO), OA is conducting a special study (Perimeter Scanning Project) to map out and characterize the DOE 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 and testing has been completed for 53 DOE/NNSA sites and is in progress for one last site. A final project report will be issued this fall.

Y-12 Cyber Security Inspection: Planning activities continue in preparation for a cyber security inspection at the Y-12 Plant in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. The team is currently reviewing program documentation and conducting coordination with the site. An initial site visit has been scheduled.

Office of Emergency Management Oversight (OA-30)

Office of Secure Transportation (OST) Emergency Management Inspection: Onsite data collection continued for the OST emergency management inspection. This week's activities primarily focused on a programmatic evaluation and follow-up to last week's emergency response exercise. This evaluation will determine how effectively OST has prepared for and is capable of responding to a simulated accident as well as assess OST emergency management program elements. Report validation and the inspection closeout briefing have been scheduled.

Special Review of the DOE Polygraph Program: Data collection was completed at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) and Oak Ridge last week. Interviews at Headquarters were completed this week and the draft report is under development. In addition to OA, the review team is comprised of representatives from the Offices of Economic Impact and Diversity; and Management, Budget and Evaluation. This special review is being conducted by OA at the request of the Deputy Secretary to evaluate management and personnel issues. Report validation has been scheduled.

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

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL): Preparations continue for conducting an ES&H evaluation at PNNL. A detailed evaluation plan was developed; and onsite data collection has been scheduled.

Office of Repository Development (ORD) Management Assessment: At the request of the site manager, OA conducted a special assessment of the ORD at Yucca Mountain, NV. Onsite activities were completed on October 16 and the draft report was developed. QRB, onsite validation, and informal closeout activities were conducted this week. Formal closeout activities have been scheduled.

Nevada Test Site (NTS) Special Review of the Work for Others Program: At the request of the site manager, OA conducted a special review of the NTS Work for Others Program. Data collection activities and the QRB have been completed and onsite validation and closeout activities were conducted this week.

Savannah River Site (SRS) ES&H and Emergency Management Inspection: A memorandum announcing the scoping visit is being developed. The inspection has been scheduled.

Activities Completed

Office of Safeguards and Security Evaluations (OA-10)

IG Inspection of Foreign Visits and Assignments (FV&A) Program: Participated in teleconference with representatives of the IG to discuss past inspection results of the FV&A program at Y-12 and ORNL.

Revised Internal Security Procedures: OA internal security procedures related to electronic transmission of Official Use Only information, electronic devices in limited areas, and hand-carrying of classified through airports was distributed.

Office of Emergency Management Oversight (OA-30)

Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (INEEL) Combined Emergency Management and ES&H Inspection: Comments on the draft report were incorporated as appropriate and the final report was delivered to the site on October 24.

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

DOE FRAM: The draft FRAM was reviewed and comments were provided.