Certification and Accreditation of the Office of Science National Security Systems (Science)
Meeting Medical and Research Needs for Isotopes Derived from Uranium-233
As part of its program to produce isotopes for medical, research and industrial purposes.
the Departnient of Energy (Department) has used its unique nuclear facilities to produce
thorium-229 isotopes f'rom its inventory of uranium-233. Thorium-229 is used to create
actiniurn-225 and its progeny isotope, bismuth-213. Both actinium and bismuth are
extreniely rare isotopes that are now being used in clinical trials and cancer research at
organi~ationsu ch as the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York. Early
research results have been promising, showing improved cancer survivability rates in test
populations. Consistent with these research results, a 2001 Departmental Report to
Congress underscored the importance of maintaining a supply of these isotopes to support
promising medical research and treatment. Specifically, the report stated that "the supply
of actinium-225lbismuth-213 available as uranium-233 decay products will be inadequate
if therapeutic applications for leukemia become even moderately successful and will
become woefully inadequate if successfully applied to other types of cancer including
prostate, breast. lymphomas, and various forms of brain cancer."
the Departnient of Energy (Department) has used its unique nuclear facilities to produce
thorium-229 isotopes f'rom its inventory of uranium-233. Thorium-229 is used to create
actiniurn-225 and its progeny isotope, bismuth-213. Both actinium and bismuth are
extreniely rare isotopes that are now being used in clinical trials and cancer research at
organi~ationsu ch as the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York. Early
research results have been promising, showing improved cancer survivability rates in test
populations. Consistent with these research results, a 2001 Departmental Report to
Congress underscored the importance of maintaining a supply of these isotopes to support
promising medical research and treatment. Specifically, the report stated that "the supply
of actinium-225lbismuth-213 available as uranium-233 decay products will be inadequate
if therapeutic applications for leukemia become even moderately successful and will
become woefully inadequate if successfully applied to other types of cancer including
prostate, breast. lymphomas, and various forms of brain cancer."
Office of Science Laboratory Conferences
The Department of Energy's Office of Science manages ten major laboratories, comprising one
of the most comprehensive research systems of its kind in the world. Office of Science entities
hold a variety of conferences that bring together a broad range of scientists and researchers to
present scientific results, discuss technologies, and expand collaboration.
Federal and Department policies provide guidance on the use of Federal and non-Federal funds for
conferences, with the objective of ensuring that conferences are managed in a cost effective manner.
These policies include restrictions on the use of funds for items such as food, alcohol, and
entertainment. Further, the Department requires that conferences be approved in advance and that
conference details be included in the Department's Conference Management System database. The
System provides senior Department officials with information they need to ensure that Departmentsponsored
conferences are managed responsibly. According to the Conference Management System
database, the Department held over 900 conferences, symposia, workshops, and meetings in fiscal
years 2005 through 2007 at an estimated cost of almost $38 million. However, as discussed in the
attached report, we found that these numbers were materialIy understated.
We conducted a review of selected Office of Science sponsored or co-sponsored conferences
managed by three of its laboratories to determine whether the conferences were managed cost
effectively, consistent with applicable policies and regulations. The laboratories were Argonne
National Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), and Thomas Jefferson National
Accelerator Facility.
of the most comprehensive research systems of its kind in the world. Office of Science entities
hold a variety of conferences that bring together a broad range of scientists and researchers to
present scientific results, discuss technologies, and expand collaboration.
Federal and Department policies provide guidance on the use of Federal and non-Federal funds for
conferences, with the objective of ensuring that conferences are managed in a cost effective manner.
These policies include restrictions on the use of funds for items such as food, alcohol, and
entertainment. Further, the Department requires that conferences be approved in advance and that
conference details be included in the Department's Conference Management System database. The
System provides senior Department officials with information they need to ensure that Departmentsponsored
conferences are managed responsibly. According to the Conference Management System
database, the Department held over 900 conferences, symposia, workshops, and meetings in fiscal
years 2005 through 2007 at an estimated cost of almost $38 million. However, as discussed in the
attached report, we found that these numbers were materialIy understated.
We conducted a review of selected Office of Science sponsored or co-sponsored conferences
managed by three of its laboratories to determine whether the conferences were managed cost
effectively, consistent with applicable policies and regulations. The laboratories were Argonne
National Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), and Thomas Jefferson National
Accelerator Facility.
Audit of Joint Appointments at Office of Science Laboratories
The Department of Energy's Office of Science laboratories utilized joint appointments with institutions of higher education and other scientific institutions to supplement their staffing and crease research opportunities. Joint appointees are typically, though not always, contractor employees of one of the Office of Sciences national laboratories or an insitution of higher education.
Yucca Mountain Project Document Suspension
The Department or Energy's Office of Civilian Radioaztivc Waste Management
(OCRWM) is preparing to obtain a license from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to construct a permanent repository at Yucca Mountain for the disposal of high-level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel. In December 2005, OCRWM identified design process inadequacies and suspended the appro\lal of new7 documents 'important to waste isolation' or safety analysis that were subject to quality assurance procedures. Waste isolation refers to limiting radioactive exposure to the public after the waste is placed in the repository; while safety refers to limiting exposure prior to emplacement
(OCRWM) is preparing to obtain a license from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to construct a permanent repository at Yucca Mountain for the disposal of high-level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel. In December 2005, OCRWM identified design process inadequacies and suspended the appro\lal of new7 documents 'important to waste isolation' or safety analysis that were subject to quality assurance procedures. Waste isolation refers to limiting radioactive exposure to the public after the waste is placed in the repository; while safety refers to limiting exposure prior to emplacement
The Department or Energy's Office of Civilian Radioaztivc Waste Management
(OCRWM) is preparing to obtain a license from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to
construct a permanent repository at Yucca Mountain for the disposal of high-level
radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel. In December 2005, OCRWM identified design
process inadequacies and suspended the appro\lal of new7 documents 'important to waste
isolation' or safety analysis that were subject to quality assurance procedures. Waste
isolation refers to limiting radioactive exposure to the public after the waste is placed in
the repository; while safety refers to limiting exposure prior to emplacement.
OCRWM lifted the suspension in October 2006 after its contractor, Bechtel SAIC
Company, LLC (BSC), revised its quality assurance procedures. Subsequentlq, the
Office of Inspector General and OCRWM received allegations concerning the
effectiveness of the suspension. The objective of our inquiry was to determine whether
quality assurance procedures were followed - specifically, whether quality affecting
documents that were important to waste isolation and safety were issued during the
suspension or reclassified so that they would not be subject to the established quality
assurance process.
(OCRWM) is preparing to obtain a license from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to
construct a permanent repository at Yucca Mountain for the disposal of high-level
radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel. In December 2005, OCRWM identified design
process inadequacies and suspended the appro\lal of new7 documents 'important to waste
isolation' or safety analysis that were subject to quality assurance procedures. Waste
isolation refers to limiting radioactive exposure to the public after the waste is placed in
the repository; while safety refers to limiting exposure prior to emplacement.
OCRWM lifted the suspension in October 2006 after its contractor, Bechtel SAIC
Company, LLC (BSC), revised its quality assurance procedures. Subsequentlq, the
Office of Inspector General and OCRWM received allegations concerning the
effectiveness of the suspension. The objective of our inquiry was to determine whether
quality assurance procedures were followed - specifically, whether quality affecting
documents that were important to waste isolation and safety were issued during the
suspension or reclassified so that they would not be subject to the established quality
assurance process.