Highlights for January 31 - February 4, 2005

Office of Safeguards and Security Evaluations (OA-10)

Site Assistance Visits (SAVs): Onsite analyses at the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) and Nevada Test Site (NTS) were completed this week. The remaining SAVs are scheduled to be conducted at the Office of Secure Transportation (OST) and Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). The objective of the SAVs is to identify protection strategies and technologies to effectively implement the September 2004 design basis threat (DBT).

Sandia National Laboratories-New Mexico (SNL-NM) Safeguards and Security Comprehensive Inspection: Preparations continued for an onsite planning visit scheduled to be conducted at SNL-NM in support of the comprehensive inspection. A composite adversary team and adversary objectives for the force-on-force performance exercises have been identified. This inspection is being conducted as a part of a combined OA-10, OA-20, and OA-30 inspection.

Oversight Policy and Order, 226.1: The Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board (DNFSB) continued to work on comments on the policy as part of the review and acceptance of DOE's implementation plan in response to DNFSB Recommendation 2004-1. Upon receipt, these comments will be considered for inclusion in the final draft of the policy. Activities continued on coordinating the draft Order through the program offices prior to formally submitting the order into the DOE REVCOM process.

Honeywell Engagement Simulation System (ESS) Tasking: A meeting was held in Albuquerque, NM, this week (February 1) to discuss the Fiscal Year 2005 projected costs for maintaining ESS equipment and supporting force-on-force exercises. A revised cost projection will be developed this week and provided to management for consideration.

Nuclear Materials Management Safeguards System (NMMSS) Task Force Report: The task force report was issued this week (February 1). SP-1 assigned Gary Kodman to track implementation of the recommendations and provide technical assistance in overcoming potential obstacles.

Safeguards and Security Lessons-Learned: The revised draft will be reviewed during the next quality review board (date to be determined). The report is based on safeguard and security inspection results over the last two years and will identify positive attributes, areas needing improvement, and best practices to enhance protection programs throughout the Department. The final report will be distributed to ESE and NNSA security managers.

Basic Security Police Officer Training Special Review: The draft report was revised in preparation for review by the quality review board (date to be determined).

Office of Cyber Security Evaluations (OA-20)

Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) Classified Cyber Security Inspection: Preparations continued for an onsite planning visit scheduled to be conducted at SNL NM in support of the comprehensive inspection scheduled for March and April. The technical assessment protocol has been discussed with the designated approving authority (DAA) and signatures are pending arrival for the scoping visit. The scope of the inspection is scheduled to include SNL operations in New Mexico and California. This inspection is being conducted as a part of a combined OA 10, OA-20, and OA-30 inspection.

South-Eastern Power Administration (SEPA) Cyber Security Inspection: Preparations continued this week in support of a cyber security inspection of SEPA. Coordination continued with key SEPA cyber security personnel. Many of the documents requested have been received and are being reviewed. In addition to the inspection plan, the technical assessment protocol was submitted this week to SEPA for review.

Western Area Power Administration (WAPA) Cyber Security Inspection: Review of the distributed computing environment at four regional WAPA offices is scheduled for the Rocky Mountain and Desert Southwest Regional Offices located in Loveland, CO, and Phoenix, AZ, respectively. The inspection schedule was expanded to accommodate the deployment of individual teams to review the distributed computing environment at the four regional offices. Validation and closeout activities are scheduled to be conducted at Lakewood, CO.

Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) Cyber Security Inspection: Comments on the final draft were resolved this week. The final report is scheduled to be issued in February.

Department of Energy Architecture Repository (DEAR) Software Application Special Review: Development of the final report was initiated this week. A security review of the DEAR software application, managed by the OCIO, is being performed in response to concerns raised by the National Treasury Employee Union (NTEU).

Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) Cyber Security Inspection Corrective Action Plan (CAP): An interim CAP has been received from BPA staff.

Southwestern Power Administration (SWPA) Unclassified Cyber Security Inspection Corrective Action Plan (CAP): Review of the interim CAP continued.

Continuous Network Scanning Program: Efforts to implement the continuous scanning program in response to the Secretary's Security Initiative was initiated this week. Contacts were made with OCIO to coordinate the initial scans of DOE Headquarters and with Argonne National Laboratory (ANL). Additional sites will be added to the program after further coordination.

Office of Emergency Management Oversight (OA-30)

Sandia National Laboratories - New Mexico (SNL-NM) Emergency Management Inspection: Peparations continued for an onsite planning visit scheduled to be conducted at SNL-NM in support of the comprehensive inspection scheduled for March and April. Inspection activities will include integrating emergency management and security performance test objectives.

Argonne National Laboratory-West (ANL-W) Emergency Management Targeted Review Corrective Action Plan (CAP): OA agreed to a 1-week extension for submission of the ANL-W interim CAP as requested by the Office of Nuclear Energy, Science and Technology (NE) . NE-1 has instructed the Idaho Operations Office (ID) to change the proposed interim CAP completion dates to achieve program improvements more rapidly. The revised interim CAP is scheduled to be provided to OA next week (February 7).

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

Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) ES&H Inspection: Preparations continued for an onsite planning visit scheduled to be conducted at SNL-NM in support of the comprehensive inspection scheduled for March and April. Coordination continued with DOE site office and laboratory contacts. Inspection activities are being coordinated with the other OA offices who will be conducting a combined inspection.

Argonne National Laboratory-East (ANL-E) ES&H Inspection: Preparations were initiated this week in support of onsite scoping activities. Conference calls are being conducted to establish scoping agenda activities to include facility tours, technical discussions, interviews and status of corrective actions from the previous OA review.

Pantex Plant (Pantex) ES&H Inspection: Onsite data collection activities concluded at Pantex this week (February 4). Onsite validation and closeout activities are scheduled.

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) ES&H Inspection Corrective Action Plan (CAP): LLNL is scheduled to submit an interim CAP for review by mid February.

New Brunswick Laboratory (NBL) ES&H Inspection Corrective Action Plan (CAP): Review of the final CAP continued.

Investigation of Worker Vapor Exposure and Occupational Medicine Program Allegations at the Hanford Site Corrective Action Plan (CAP): The review of the CAP is scheduled to be completed by the end of this week (February 4).

ES&H Focus Area Reports: Preparation of the CY 04 reports continued. The review criteria and approaches for CY 05 focus areas have been prepared and were incorporated into the Pantex Plant ES&H inspection plan.

Annual ES&H Lessons Learned Report: Development of the report summarizing the lessons learned from CY 04 inspections continued.

National Training Center (NTC) Safety Professional Development Program: An assessment of the Safety Systems Oversight (SSO) course was conducted at LANL this week to determine applicability for use as a complex-wide SSO course to be conducted by NTC. Two courses, SSO and Contractor Oversight, have been selected for fast-track deployment in the March-April time frame. On November 5, the Secretary of Energy designated the National Training Center (NTC) as the center of excellence in security and safety professional development. This initiative is in partnership with NNSA, EH, and other departmental organizations including the Federal Technical Capability Program. The Director, SSA, designated OA-40 senior staff to lead the safety professional development efforts.