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The Department of Energy is responsible for initiatives designed to reduce the threat related to nuclear materials and weapons in the former Soviet Union (FSU). One of the most prominent initiatives is the International Materials Protection, Control and Accountability (IMPC&A) program, whose objective is to reduce the risk posed by weapons and weapons-usable nuclear material at 95 sites in the FSU. The Department commits about $250 million annually to this initiative.PCC

International Materials Protection, Control and Accountability Nonproliferation Initiative

Stockpile Stewardship and Management for a Modern Pit Facility

Western Greenbrier Co-Production Demonstration Project, Rainelle, West Virginia

The Department of Energy and its contractors are responsible for protecting materials and facilities critical to the Nation's nuclear defense program, as well as those used to support scientific, research, and environmental-related missions. While the security of Department sites has been a priority for many years, in the wake of the terrorist attacks of September 11,2001, the Department took action to enhance security at its facilities. One important aspect of this initiative was an increased need for additional protective force personnel. For example, at National Nuclear Security Administration sites, authorized positions increased by 17 percent, to 2,319 officers. Once all positions are filled, annual security force costs for those sites are expected to exceed $251 million for the current fiscal year, an increase of 67 percent. In previous reports, the Office of Inspector General identified a number of efficiency concerns relating to the Department's management of its protective forces. In light of these concerns, we initiated this audit to evaluate the Department's management of its protective force program.

Management of the Department’s Protective Forces

The Office of Inspector General (OIG) conducted an inspection of select grants funded by the Department of Energy (DOE) Savannah River Operations Office (SRO). Specifically, the purpose of this inspection was to review the oversight and management of grant monies awarded by SRO for emergency response and law enforcement-related activities. SRO has five such grants. The State of Georgia received two grants, and the State of South Carolina received three grants. Financial obligations for the five grants for Fiscal Years (FYs) 2001 and 2002 were approximately $2,682,534 and $3,004,728, respectively. The Georgia agencies responsible for managing the grants are the Emergency Management Agency and the Department of Natural Resources. The South Carolina agencies responsible for managing the grants are the Department of Health and Environmental Control and the Emergency Management Division.

Inspection of Savannah River Operations Office Management of Emergency Response and Law Enforcement-Related Grants

Plymouth Generating Facility Plymouth, Washington

Welcome to the 35th quarterly report on lessons learned in the NEPA process. We are pleased to include in this issue three new mini-guidance articl...