Highlights for February 21 - February 25, 2005

Office of Safeguards and Security Evaluations (OA-10)

Site Assistance Visits (SAVs): Preparations have been completed this week for the SAV scheduled to be conducted at the Office of Secure Transportation (OST). The remaining scheduled SAV will be conducted at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). Executive summaries of completed SAVs are being prepared and are scheduled to be provided to OA management next week. The objective of the SAVs is to identify protection strategies and technologies to effectively implement the September 2004 design basis threat (DBT). A final report summarizing SAV activities is scheduled to be released in May.

Sandia National Laboratories-New Mexico (SNL-NM) Safeguards and Security Comprehensive Inspection: Preparations continued for an onsite planning visit. This inspection is being conducted as a part of a combined OA-10, OA-20, and OA-30 inspection.

Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) Chemical / Biological (Chem/Bio) Special Review: A visit to ORNL was conducted this week (February 23 24). OA-10 and OA 30 received presentations by site personnel regarding safety, security, and emergency management regarding biological work for others; and toured the ORNL biological safety laboratory. The trip provided OA a better understanding of the protection strategy for the agents stored at ORNL and the associated emergency preparedness program.

Safeguards and Security Lessons-Learned: The revised draft was reviewed by the quality review board this week (February 24). Edits were made and the report was prepared for final management approval and distribution. 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 revised draft was reviewed by the quality review board this week (February 24). Edits were made and the report was prepared for final management approval and distribution. The special review assessed the effectiveness of the Basic Security Policy Officer curriculum taught at the National Training Center (NTC) and at various DOE sites in preparing entry-level officers to defend against an adversary and performing routine duties.

Remote Weapons System Demonstration: Attended a demonstration of a remote weapons system this week (February 24). The demonstration provided enhanced understanding of the system's capabilities and limitations. Information from the presentation will be evaluated and then shared with Departmental security managers to aid in their deliberations regarding installation of similar systems at DOE facilities.

Material Control and Accountability (MC&A) Task Force: Interviews and data analysis were completed this week in support of the MC&A Task Force. Personnel from the Office of Security (SO), Office of Environmental Management (EM) and the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) were interviewed concerning current MC&A policy, technologies, field assistance, databases, and organizational structures and interfaces.

Office of Cyber Security Evaluations (OA-20)

Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) Classified Cyber Security Inspection: Preparations continued for an onsite planning visit. 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 cyber 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: Onsite data collection activities were conducted at SEPA Headquarters, located in Elberton, GA, this week (February 21-25). Remote testing has been completed and a draft inspection report is under development. Onsite validation and closeout activities are scheduled.

Western Area Power Administration (WAPA) Cyber Security Inspection: Development of the draft report continued this week. Validation and closeout activities are scheduled.

Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) Cyber Security Inspection Corrective Action Plan (CAP): An interim CAP is required to be submitted to OA by March 18.

Department of Energy Architecture Repository (DEAR) Software Application Special Review Corrective Action Plan (CAP): An interim CAP is required to be submitted to OA by March 18. A security review of the DEAR software application, managed by the OCIO, was performed in response to concerns raised by the National Treasury Employee Union (NTEU).

Southwestern Power Administration (SWPA) Unclassified Cyber Security Inspection Corrective Action Plan (CAP): A final corrective action plan is due in early March.

Office of Emergency Management Oversight (OA-30)

Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) Chemical / Biological (Chem/Bio) Special Review: A visit to ORNL was conducted this week (February 23 24). OA-10 and OA 30 received presentations by site personnel regarding safety, security, and emergency management regarding biological work; and toured the ORNL biological safety laboratory. The trip provided OA personnel a better understanding of the protection strategy for the agents stored at ORNL and the associated emergency preparedness program.

Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant (PORTS) Emergency Management Inspection: Planning activities continued for the inspection scheduled. The November 2004 characterization visit to PORTS has made it possible to combine the planning and scoping visits into a single site visit reducing the impact of the inspection on site activities.

Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) Emergency Management Inspection: Preparations continued for an onsite planning visit. 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): SSA provided a response to the interim CAP submitted by the Office of Nuclear Energy, Science and Technology.

Draft Classification Guidance on Malevolent Dispersal. OA-10 and OA-30 have developed comments to a proposed modification to the latest Draft Classification Guidance on Malevolent Dispersal circulated by the associated Working Group. The memorandum to the Office of Security (Roger Wu, SO-10) Chairman of the Working Group transmitting the proposed guidance is being reviewed within OA.

Inspection of National Response Assets: In coordination with the Office of Emergency Operations (NA-40), discussions are occurring to explore options for inspection of elements of the national response programs.

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

Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) Environment, Safety, and Health Management Inspection: Preparations continued for an onsite planning visit. 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 security, cyber security, and emergency management inspection.

Argonne National Laboratory-East (ANL) ES&H Inspection: Onsite scoping activities were conducted at ANL this week (February 23-24). Onsite planning and data collection activities are scheduled.

Pantex Plant (Pantex) ES&H Inspection: Comments on the draft report are due to be submitted by the site to OA by March 3.

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) ES&H Inspection Corrective Action Plan (CAP): LLNL is scheduled to submit an interim CAP to OA for review by March 7. DOE and laboratory management provided briefings on the status of CAP development this week (February 22).

Assistance to New Brunswick Laboratory (NBL): The Director, OA-40 attended a meeting at NBL this week (February 22-23) to discuss the path forward on the development of a radiological technical basis and a Maintenance Implementation Plan for the laboratory.

ES&H Focus Area Reports: Two of the reports from CY 2004 have been reviewed by the quality review board and are being revised and prepared for OA management approval and distribution. The review criteria and approaches for CY 05 focus areas have been prepared and were incorporated into the CY 2005 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: The Safety Professional Career Development and Training Advisory Committee met this week (February 24) to discuss guidance for development of the training program. OA-40 continues to provide support to the development of two courses, Safety Systems Oversight (SSO) and Contractor Oversight, 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.