The Department of Energy's American Recovery and Reinvestment Act - Georgia State Energy Program
The Department of Energy's (Department) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) provides grants to states, territories and the District of Columbia (states) to support their energy priorities through the State Energy Program (SEP). Federal funding is based on a grant formula that considers the population and energy consumption in each state, and amounted to $25 million for Fiscal Year (FY) 2009. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act) expanded the SEP by authorizing an additional $3.1 billion to states using the existing grant formula. EERE made grant awards to states after reviewing plans that summarize the activities each state will undertake to achieve SEP Recovery Act objectives, including preserving and creating jobs; saving energy; increasing renewable energy sources; and, reducing greenhouse gas emissions. EERE program guidance emphasizes that states are responsible for administering the SEP within each state, and requires each state to implement internal controls over the use of Recovery Act funds.
Department's Freedom of Information Act Request Process
The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA or the Act) (5 U.S.C. 552) specifies the information that all Federal Agencies are required to make available to the public. The Act, as it is applicable to the Department of Energy (Department), is presented in 10 CFR 1004. According to the Department's most recent Annual FOIA Report, in Fiscal Year (FY) 2009, 1,809 FOIA requests were received. Of these, 702 remained at Department Headquarters for processing, with the
remainder being processed by various field organizations. In most circumstances, the Act
requires that responses be provided within a maximum of 20 days. The Department has
established a FOIA Office to effectively respond to information requests received at
Headquarters. Once a request has been validated by that Office, it is forwarded to the
appropriate program office or field site for fulfillment. The Office of General Counsel reviews all situations in which the processing organization proposes to withhold information.
remainder being processed by various field organizations. In most circumstances, the Act
requires that responses be provided within a maximum of 20 days. The Department has
established a FOIA Office to effectively respond to information requests received at
Headquarters. Once a request has been validated by that Office, it is forwarded to the
appropriate program office or field site for fulfillment. The Office of General Counsel reviews all situations in which the processing organization proposes to withhold information.
The Audit of Precious Metals at NNSA Sites
The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), a semi-autonomous organization within the Department of Energy (Department), uses precious metals, such as gold, silver, and platinum at its National Laboratories and production sites for research and development and to construct weapon components. Due to their value, Federal Regulation 41 CFR 109-27.51 (Regulation), Management of Precious Metals, requires Department organizations and contractors to establish effective procedures and practices for their administrative and physical control. Sites are also required to conduct annual reviews of precious metals holdings to determine if the quantities on-hand are in excess of program requirements, and if so, return the excess to the Department's precious metals pool for recycling. The Business Center for Precious Metals Sales and Recovery (Business Center), located in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, operates the Department's precious metals pool. The Regulation also requires that precious metals custodians provide justifications for further retention of idle metals and that the justifications be approved by the custodian's supervisor.
Follow-up Audit on Retention and Management of the Department of Energy's Electronic Records
The Department of Energy is required by statute (44 USC Chapter 31) to establish and maintain
an effective records management program that comports with regulations established by the
National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). The Department's employees and
contractors have increasingly relied on electronic mail (e-mail) and other electronic records as a
primary means of performing their duties. A comprehensive records management program
ensures that records documenting agency business are created or captured, organized and
maintained to facilitate their use and available when needed. To aid in this process, records
management software (application) can be used to facilitate preservation, retrieval, use, and
disposition of records. In light of Federal requirements, in February 2006 the Department
developed policies to guide the implementation and maintenance of a cost-effective records
management program.
an effective records management program that comports with regulations established by the
National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). The Department's employees and
contractors have increasingly relied on electronic mail (e-mail) and other electronic records as a
primary means of performing their duties. A comprehensive records management program
ensures that records documenting agency business are created or captured, organized and
maintained to facilitate their use and available when needed. To aid in this process, records
management software (application) can be used to facilitate preservation, retrieval, use, and
disposition of records. In light of Federal requirements, in February 2006 the Department
developed policies to guide the implementation and maintenance of a cost-effective records
management program.
Office of Science's Energy Frontier Research Centers
National Nuclear Security Administration's Contracts for the Down-Blending of Highly Enriched Uranium