Highlights for October 18 - October 22, 2004

Office of Safeguards and Security Evaluations (OA-10)

Control and Accountability of Classified Removable Electronic Media (CREM): Preparations continue for the final validation which is scheduled to be conducted at the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) . To date, 18 sites/organizations have been validated. An overall report summarizing the validation results will be completed following the LANL review.

Design Basis Threat (DBT) Site Assistance Visits (SAV): Continued to support the planning and preparation for the SSA site assistance visits. The objective of these visits is to identify protection strategies and technologies to effectively implement the September 2004 design basis threat (DBT). Two SAV teams are scheduled to receive training on the process next week (October 25). Onsite SAV activities are scheduled to be conducted at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) and Argonne National Laboratory-West (ANL-W). All SAV are scheduled to be concluded by March 2005.

Safeguards and Security Director's Conference: Prepared presentation material and talking points for the upcoming S&S Director's Conference scheduled to be held next week. The focus of the conference is on strategic changes to the National Training Center (NTC), development of an elite protective force, and implementation of the September 2004 DBT.

Chemical -Biological (Chem-Bio) Agent Special Review: Planning continued with the Office of Emergency Management Evaluations (OA-30) in preparation to conduct onsite scoping activities at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL). The results of this special review may impact the implementation of current protection strategies across the Department.

Basic Security Police Officer Training Special Review: Development of a draft report continued. The draft report is scheduled for OA management review next week (October 29). The final report is scheduled to be released in January 2005.

Nuclear Materials Management and Safeguards System (NMMSS) Database Working Group: The task force provided a briefing to SSA management this week. Meetings were also held this week regarding the Safeguards Information Bridge (SIB), a browser-based software tool designed to access, review, and analysis of large volumes of nuclear material data regarding the location and status of nuclear material throughout DOE. The SIB utilizes the data in the NMMSS and other database sources. A report of SIB capabilities is being prepared and is scheduled to be provided to SSA management by November 24.

Composite Adversary Team (CAT) Training: Continued development of the training plan and schedule in support of the training. A meeting is scheduled for next week (October 26) with the instructors to discuss training objectives and expectations.

Safeguards and Security Lessons Learned: Topic teams continued to work towards completing the report appendices. The draft report is scheduled for management review by December 15. The report will be based on safeguard and security inspection results for the last two years. This report is being prepared for ESE and NNSA security managers. The report will identify program positive attributes, areas needing improvement and best practices to enhance protection programs throughout the Department.

Office of Cyber Security Evaluations (OA-20)

Southwestern Power Administration (SWPA) Unclassified Cyber Security Inspection: An internal quality review was conducted and a revised preliminary draft inspection report is being developed. Onsite validation and closeout activities are scheduled for.

Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) Cyber Security Inspection: Final report development continued.

Support to Office of Science (SC) Review of Cyber Security: SC is conducting reviews of cyber security at DOE Science sites. The reviews consist of teleconferenced presentations by the site to SC regarding the site cyber security programs. OA and the Office of the CIO have been requested by SC to attend the presentations and provide technical assistance of the material presented. A review of the Stanford Linear Accelerator Facility (SLAF) has been postponed. A new date has not been provided.

Office of Emergency Management Oversight (OA-30)

Chemical -Biological (Chem-Bio) Agent Special Review: Planning continued with the Office of Safeguard and Security Evaluations (OA-10) in preparation for onsite scoping activities at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL). The results of this special review may impact the implementation of current protection strategies across the Department.

Argonne National Laboratory-West (ANL-W) Emergency Management Targeted Review: Onsite data collection activities concluded this week (October 20). Validation and closeout activities are scheduled. Coordination continues with the Office of Nuclear Energy, Science and Technology (NE), Idaho Operations Office (ID), Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (INEEL), Office of Science (SC), Chicago Operations Office (CH), and Argonne National Laboratory-West (ANL-W). The scope of the review will include ensuring that emergency management program effectiveness is maintained during the transition of line management roles, responsibilities, and authorities between SC and NE.

Emergency Management Site Characterization Visits: Planning continued for the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant (GDP) and National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) visits scheduled for November. The purpose of the visits is to obtain a better understanding of the sites emergency management programs. The visits are being coordinated with the appropriate program and site office personnel.

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

Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) Special Safety Assistance Review: The Director, OA-40, accompanied the Director, SSA, to a briefing with the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board (DNFSB) this week (October 21) regarding activities conducted at LANL. Development of a letter report continued summarizing activities conducted and providing recommendations to further sustain the resumption momentum and to improve ongoing institutional initiatives.

Oak Ridge National Laboratory ES&H Corrective Action Plan (CAP): Awaiting an approved CAP from the site. The CAP was due last week (October 18).

Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board (DNFSB) Recommendation 2004-1, Oversight of Complex, High-Hazard Nuclear Operations: Continued to provide support to develop an implementation plan for this recommendation. A number of significant comments on the implementation plan have been provided and discussions held with the implementation plan team lead and team members.

New Brunswick Laboratory (NBL) ES&H Inspection: The Director, OA-40, conducted scoping activities last week (October 15) in preparation for the inspection scheduled for November.