Highlights for September 19 - September 23, 2005

Office of Safeguards and Security Evaluations

Office of Secure Transportation (OST) Safeguards and Security Comprehensive Inspection: Preparation and coordination were completed in support of data collection activities at the various OST locations. Close out activities are scheduled.

National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) Service Center Personnel Security Clearance Program Special Review: Onsite review activities are scheduled to be conducted mostly coincident with the OST inspection. However, data collection will be completed sooner, as well as close-out activities.

Waste Isolation Pilot Project (WIPP) Security Special Review: Initial data collection activities were conducted and additional data collection activities are scheduled. A final report will be issued in November. This special review will focus on the protection afforded classified parts shipped from DOE sites to WIPP, located in Carlsbad, NM.

Chemical and Biological Agent Facilities Special Review: Onsite closeout activities are scheduled. This review is being conducted in order to characterize the protection and emergency response programs associated with the expanding work for others efforts involving chemical and biological agents. This will be a joint review conducted by the Offices of Safeguards and Security Evaluations and Emergency Management Oversight. Special review activities are also planned to be conducted at other DOE facilities.

Nevada Test Site (NTS) Safeguards and Security Comprehensive Inspection: NTS comments on the draft report have been incorporated, as appropriate. The report is scheduled to be forwarded for management's approval next week (September 26-30).

Y-12 National Security Complex (Y-12) Safeguards and Security Comprehensive Inspection Corrective Action Plan (CAP): Comments on the Y-12 CAP have been developed and are under management review.

Sandia National Laboratories-New Mexico (SNL-NM) Safeguards and Security Comprehensive Inspection Corrective Action Plan (CAP): Comments were developed and are under management review.

Annual Security Self-Assessment: The results of the self-assessment are scheduled to be published by the end of next week (September 30). The self-assessment evaluated internal security measures and the protection afforded classified information stored in SP/OA offices at the Forrestal and Germantown facilities.

Safeguards and Security Lessons-Learned Report: Work continued on the draft report following comments provided by the internal review board. The final report will be distributed to the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), and Energy, Science, and Environment (ESE) security managers.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) Inspection of DOE's Information Security Program: The Information Security Oversight Office (ISOO), NARA, reviewed SP-41 inspection reports for the past five years and interviewed the SP 41 Headquarters Security Officer. No significant issues were identified.

Office of Cyber Security Evaluations

Cyber Security Improvement Initiative: In partnership with the Office of Science (SC) and the Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO), penetration testing is scheduled to be performed at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) in support of the cyber security site assistance visit initiative. The development of recommendations for improving DOE cyber security management practices has begun as part of the first phase of this initiative. Site assistance visits are scheduled to be conducted at the Fermi National Accelerator and Ames Laboratories. Discussions are ongoing with the Office of Environmental Management regarding candidates for assistance visits. This initiative is being conducted to address the Department's systemic cyber security issues.

Annual Evaluation Report for the Department of Energy's Classified Information System Security Program: Comments on the draft evaluation report were received from the OCIO and the program offices and are under review for incorporation in the final report. OA has been assigned the responsibility of preparing an annual evaluation of the Department's classified information system security program as required by the Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA). Classified cyber security inspections were conducted at various DOE/NNSA sites to provide the information for this year's annual evaluation.

Continuous Network Scanning Program: DOE sites identified during the perimeter scanning project continue to be added to the scanning program as points of contact are established, Internet protocol ranges are verified, and reports are generated and submitted for validation by the sites. This program is being conducted in support of the Secretary's Security Initiatives.

Unannounced Cyber Security Penetration Testing: Comments on the draft evaluation reports were received from the National Training Center (NTC) and the NNSA Service Center and are under review for incorporation in the respective final reports. Unannounced penetration testing of additional DOE/NNSA sites continued. This program also supports the security initiatives.

SSA managers and an NNSA representative met with staff from the House and Senate Armed Services Committees to discuss the Department's internal cyber security performance measurement capabilities, including unannounced cyber security penetration testing (red team). SSA has developed red team capabilities that are producing results similar to the National Counterintelligence Executive (NCIX) sponsored annual red teams of DOE weapons laboratories, which are required by the 2000 Defense Authorization Act.

Department of Energy Architecture Repository (DEAR) Software Application Special Review Corrective Action Plan (CAP): The final CAP from the OCIO is overdue. 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).

Office of Emergency Management Oversight

National Response Assets Inspection Planning: Performance testing planning continued in support of the Radiological Assistance Program (RAP) inspection scheduled to be conducted. The inspection team leader is scheduled to attend Senior Energy Official training courses in Shepardstown, WV, to better understand departmental expectations for RAP team leader roles and responsibilities.

Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) Emergency Management Inspection: Offsite coordination with ORNL continued this week in support of this inspection. Onsite data collection; and validation and closeout activities are scheduled. The scope of the inspection will include selected areas of ORNL's Emergency Management Program and will also include limited scope performance testing. This inspection is being conducted coincident with the Chemical and Biological Agent Facilities Special Review.

Pantex Site Emergency Management Inspection: A final report is being developed for SP-1 final review and distribution.

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) Emergency Management Inspection Corrective Action Plan (CAP): The interim CAP was received from LLNL and is under review.

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

Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) ES&H Inspection: Coordination with site management continued this week in support of upcoming inspection activities. Onsite planning and data collection activities scheduled.

Kansas City Plant (KCP) Follow-Up Review: A follow-up review has been scheduled to be conducted at KCP at the request of site management. The onsite review is scheduled. The follow-up review will provide feedback on the status of the site office oversight program.

Y-12 National Security Complex ES&H Inspection: Site comments on the final draft report are expected by the end of this week (September 23).

Idaho National Laboratory (INL) ES&H Inspection Corrective Action Plan (CAP): The CAP is expected in October.

Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) ES&H Inspection Corrective Action Plan (CAP): The CAP was received this week and is under review.

Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) Environment, Safety, and Health Management Inspection Corrective Action Plan (CAP): Comments on the CAP were prepared and have been provided to SSA management for review.

ES&H Lessons Learned Reports: Development of the Unreviewed Safety Question Process lessons learned report continued. Comments provided by EH on the draft Unreviewed Safety Question Process Lessons Learned Report are being reviewed for consideration and resolution. The report was provided to the OA Quality Review Board this week (September 23). This concludes the report development based on CY 2004 inspection results. Five additional focus areas are being evaluated as part of the ES&H inspections being conducted in CY 2005.

Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board (DNFSB) Recommendation 2004-1 Implementation Plan and Working Group: Continued to support implementation plan activities regarding the 2004-1 Recommendation. SP-44 has been designated to support many of the working groups including the nuclear safety oversight and Integrated Safety Management (ISM) Manuals development, the ISM work planning, and an ISM feedback and improvement working groups. The Director and senior staff met with the lead (NNSA) for the quality assurance roadmap to coordinate 226.1 and OA oversight protocol revision activities with the roadmap efforts.

Oversight Order 226.1: The Order was signed by the Secretary last week (September 15) and has been posted on the DOE Directive website. Revision of DOE Order 470.2B and the OA protocols was initiated to be consistent with DOE Order 226.1.

Support to National Training Center (NTC): Supported the NTC in developing an on-line General Technical Base Course. Deployment of the course on the DOE-wide on-line learning center system is expected by October 1. The course material was also utilized to support an in-class General Technical Base course recently given at the NTC for an NNSA intern class.

EH Office of Nuclear Safety Research: A senior member of SP-44 staff has been assigned as a point of contact and attended an EH briefing on structure and activities planned for the new office of Nuclear Safety Research. EH established this office in April 2005 to satisfy DNFSB Rec. 2004 -1 on the need for "a strong safety research focus." The functions of the office is to catalog existing research in this area, sponsor limited (about $2M per year) independent research, and to communicate all results throughout DOE. EH is planning to hold a workshop during the first week of October to select a number of pilot research projects identified at that time as a starting point. The expectation is that organizations that have agreed to work with EH, will help in identifying on-going research project, or propose new projects to be performed as part of the EH program.

DOE Environmental Compliance Task Group: Work continued with EH-40 and other DOE environmental management personnel on conducting a pilot data call as part of the Department of Energy's (DOE's) Implementation Plan in response to the Environmental Compliance Management Improvement Initiative of the President's Management Council. Although DOE, including NNSA, has a long track record of complying with the environmental laws and regulations, there continues to be a number of environmental non-compliances, of varying severity. The goal for this improvement initiative will be to identify root causes and potential solutions to address these non-compliances.

Safety Support Group (CSSG) Meeting: SP-44 staff attended the CSSG meeting in Oak Ridge, TN.

Elite Force Working Group: Attended a briefing concerning the Elite Force Working Group and discussed the Appendix J recommendations. It is intended to follow up with EH staff to further discuss the possibility of changes to the CAIRS system to include organizational code modifications and other enhancements to track injury /illness categories.