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Office of Security and Emergency Operations (SO) officials determined that SO’s program to counter the threat to Department of Energy (DOE) security forces from chemical and biological attacks should include the use of “standardized” equipment. Therefore, SO officials initiated an evaluation of chemical protective gear for the purpose of selecting and procuring a “standard” respirator for use by protective force personnel at all sites. The centralized procurement of a “standard” respirator was intended to: (1) provide a respirator that has proper form, fit, and function that is compatible with weapons and gear, including night vision goggles, used to interdict terrorists; (2) create economies of scale purchasing; (3) allow standardized training at the National Nuclear Security Institute (NNSI), and (4) allow ease of movement of protective force personnel from one site to another in the event of exigent circumstances.

Inspection of the Purchase of Protective Force Respirators

National Ignition Facility

Information Technology (IT) plays an integral role in the programs and operations of the Department of Energy. In Fiscal Year 2001, the Department budgeted $1.4 billion for the acquisition and maintenance of IT related resources, a portion of which supports the Advanced Strategic Computing Initiative. These resources, and the programs they support, are vulnerable to malicious software, viruses, trojans, worms (collectively referred to as viruses), and cyber security attacks. To effectively protect its IT resources, the Department must ensure that its virus protection and detection capabilities as well as its cyber security incident reporting practices are "state of the art."u

Virus Protection Strategies and Cyber Security Incident Reporting

OIG review the extent to which "profiling" of federal and contractor employees has occurred in the Department of Energy security porcess.

Special Review of Profiling Concerns at the Department of Energy

Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan for Rock Creek Reserve

Avian Predation on Juvenile Salmonids in the Lower Columbia River Research Project

As you recently noted in both testimony before the Congress and in public statements, the United States is facing the most serious energy supply situation since the 1970s. And, current forecasts suggest that the demand for energy is increasing. As one of the largest energy consumers in the United States, the Federal Government has established several programs to reduce demand, specifically, by moderating energy consumption in Federal buildings. Private financing of energy improvements through what are referred to as Super Energy Savings Performance Contracts (super ESPCs) is one such mechanism. Under super ESPCs, energy service contractors use private financing to make energy-savings improvements in Federal facilities. As compensation for their investment, they receive a share of the cost savings. Thus, super ESPCs represent a way to achieve Federal sector energy savings at no capital cost to the Government.