Combined Fiscal Year (FY) 2007 Annual Performance Results and FY 2008 Annual Performance Plan

I am pleased to present the Office of Inspector General’s combined Fiscal Year 2007
Annual Performance Report and Fiscal Year 2008 Annual Performance Plan.
This year, the Department of Energy (Department) celebrated the 30th anniversary
of its establishment. The implementing legislation, the Department of Energy
Organization Act, also created the Office of Inspector General. Thus, since 1977,
the Office of Inspector General has strived to aid the Department in achieving its
missions. Continuing this effort, during Fiscal Year (FY) 2007, we examined a variety
of issues that are of vital importance to the Department and the Nation as a whole. As
a direct result of our audits and inspections, significant opportunities for programmatic
cost savings, operational efficiencies, and enhanced mission accomplishments
were identified. During FY 2007, we issued 109 audit and inspection reports. Our
performance audit reports contained recommendations for enhancing operations with
likely savings of over $73 million. In addition, we referred 32 criminal cases for
prosecution, obtained 46 convictions, and recovered more than $9 million in fines,
restitutions and settlements.
The Office of Inspector General (OIG) is proud to have played a critical role this past
year in providing Department of Energy senior management with recommendations
for improving the effectiveness of programs and operations. During the course of our
work, the OIG places special emphasis on those issues that we annually identify as
significant management challenges facing the Department. Consequently, during FY
2007, we issued a number of reports addressing concerns in areas such as safeguards
and security, environmental cleanup, stockpile stewardship, cyber security, and contract
management.