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All information processed, transmitted, stored, or disseminated by or on behalf of the Department of Energy (Department) on automated information systems requires some level of protection. The loss or compromise of information entrusted to the Department or its contractors may affect the nation’s economic competitive position, the environment, national security, Department missions, or citizens of the United States. In response to the increasing threat to Federal information systems, the Government Information Security Reform Act (GISRA) was enacted in October 2000. GISRA specifically requires that national security or other classified information systems be evaluated annually by an independent organization designated by the Secretary of Energy. GISRA also requires that the Office of Inspector General perform an audit of this evaluation. The Department formally selected the Office of Independent Oversight and Performance Assurance (OA) to perform the independent evaluation of its classified information systems security program. The objective of our audit was to determine whether the evaluation of classified information systems was performed in accordance with GISRA requirements.

Umatilla Generating Project; Umatilla County, Oregon

The Department of Energy (Department) operates four light source facilities which are used to conduct experiments in disciplines such as chemistry, biology, and physics. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2000, the light sources, located at Argonne National Laboratory, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center, received $172 million in funding and served over 5,000 users. Research performed at the light sources resulted in the publication of over 540 peer-reviewed scientific journal articles in FY 2000.ÿ™™™ÿ

Peer-Reviewed Scientific Literature Generated at the Department's Light Sources

Protecting unclassified information systems continues to be one of the top issues facing Government organizations today. While the increase in computer interconnectivity, most notably growth in the use of the Internet, has revolutionized the way the Government does business, it has also significantly increased the risk of damage to information systems by malicious or unauthorized users.

Evaluation of the Department's Unclassified Cyber Security Program

Evaluation of Classified Information Systems Security Program

The Department of Energy (DOE) maintains a large inventory of firearms for use by protective forces at numerous DOE sites and for training at the Nonproliferation and National Security Institute (NNSI), formerly the Central Training Academy. Some excess firearms, as well as firearms that are not needed to meet current operational requirements, are stored by the Office of Security and Emergency Operations (SO) at its Headquarters facility at Germantown, Maryland, and at the NNSI facility at Albuquerque, New Mexico. Strict inventory controls are necessary for these firearms, which are considered “sensitive” property. The objective of our review was to determine the adequacy of SO inventory controls for selected firearms stored at its Headquarters and NNSI facilities.

Inspection of Selected Office of Security and Emergency Operations Firearms Inventories