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Treating Transuranic (TRU)/Alpha Low Level Waste at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee

Welcome to the 23rd quarterly report on lessons learned in theNEPA process. This issue features highlights from the May 2000 NEPA Compliance Office...

JEA Circulating Fluidized Bed Combustor Project

By letter dated November 1, 1999, Senator Strom Thurmond advised the Office of Inspector General of an allegation that computer equipment containing over 40 computer hard drives reportedly containing classified or sensitive information were surplused and sold by the Department’s Savannah River Site (SRS). The letter raised the concern that the release of this information might pose a threat to the national security of the United States. The management and operating contractor at SRS, Westinghouse Savannah River Company (Westinghouse), is responsible for the final disposal of surplus equipment, including computer hard drives. The purpose of our inspection was to review the allegation concerning the sale of surplus computer equipment. The objectives of our inspection were to determine whether: (1) surplus computer equipment was disposed of in accordance with Federal and Department requirements, and (2) Government-owned computer equipment at SRS was properly cleared of sensitive information prior to disposal.

Inspection of Surplus Computer Equipment Management at the Savannah River Site

In a letter to the Office of Inspector General dated February 29, 2000, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs, requested information concerning the political activities conducted by Departmental employees. The Committee also made similar requests to other Executive Branch Inspectors General. We performed an audit to determine whether campaigning activities by Departmental employees in politically sensitive positions were in accordance with applicable laws and policies and were not interfering with their official duties. We examined 90 trips taken during the 2-year period from March 1, 1998, through March 1, 2000, including trips in which you participated. We also reviewed trips taken by Deputy Secretary Glauthier, Under Secretary Moniz, and former Secretary Peña. In addition, we randomly selected trips taken by other Department employees in politically sensitive positions.

Campaigning Activities by Political Appointees

This standard defines the duties, responsibilities and qualifications for DOE Facility Representatives, based on facility hazard classification; risks to workers, the public, and the environment; and the operational activity level.

The Office of Inspector General received allegations regarding the conduct of security reviews at the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). Specifically, it was alleged that DOE Albuquerque Operations Office (Albuquerque) management changed the ratings of annual Security Surveys of LANL security operations after members of the Albuquerque Security Survey team completed the survey. It was also alleged that LANL Security Operations Division personnel were pressured by their managers to change or mitigate findings in LANL Self-Assessment reports.