Material Control and Accountability at Los Alamos National Laboratory
The Department of Energy's Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) has a national security
mission that includes responsibility for the science, engineering and technology related to certain
radioactive materials supporting the Nation's nuclear weapons program. These include materials
such as plutonium, enriched uranium and depleted uranium.
LANL maintains inventories of Categories I, 11,111, and IV accountable nuclear material.
Categories I and I1 materials are those that would be most attractive to an adversary intent on
theft or diversion. Categories 111 and N materials are those that would be less attractive, because
they contain smaller quantities of plutonium, uranium or other materials.
mission that includes responsibility for the science, engineering and technology related to certain
radioactive materials supporting the Nation's nuclear weapons program. These include materials
such as plutonium, enriched uranium and depleted uranium.
LANL maintains inventories of Categories I, 11,111, and IV accountable nuclear material.
Categories I and I1 materials are those that would be most attractive to an adversary intent on
theft or diversion. Categories 111 and N materials are those that would be less attractive, because
they contain smaller quantities of plutonium, uranium or other materials.
National Security Technologies, LLC Internal Audit Implementation Design
Confirmatory Bioassay Testing at Selected Sites
The Department of Energy maintains a significant inventory of radioactive substances at
facilities throughout the United States. To help ensure the safety of its workforce, the
Department established a two-tiered approach to biological or "bioassay" testing of
workers to determine whether and to what extent they may have absorbed radioactive
material. The more intense process mandates biological testing and applies to the
relatively few workers with significant exposure risk. When significant exposures are not
expected - the situation at most sites and upon which this audit focused - the
Department's contractors are required to develop a program to ensure that controls are
effective in reducing exposures to radioactive substances. Specific components of the
program are left to the discretion of the contractor. However, most rely on continuous air
monitoring, radiological surveys, and confimlatory bioassay testing.
Prior Office of Inspector General reviews have identified problems regarding the cost effectiveness and efficiency of the Department's bioassay monitoring program. Given the
current emphasis on worker safety and the obvious dangers posed by excessive radiation
exposure, we initiated this audit to determine whether contractor-developed bioassay
programs were effectively administered.
facilities throughout the United States. To help ensure the safety of its workforce, the
Department established a two-tiered approach to biological or "bioassay" testing of
workers to determine whether and to what extent they may have absorbed radioactive
material. The more intense process mandates biological testing and applies to the
relatively few workers with significant exposure risk. When significant exposures are not
expected - the situation at most sites and upon which this audit focused - the
Department's contractors are required to develop a program to ensure that controls are
effective in reducing exposures to radioactive substances. Specific components of the
program are left to the discretion of the contractor. However, most rely on continuous air
monitoring, radiological surveys, and confimlatory bioassay testing.
Prior Office of Inspector General reviews have identified problems regarding the cost effectiveness and efficiency of the Department's bioassay monitoring program. Given the
current emphasis on worker safety and the obvious dangers posed by excessive radiation
exposure, we initiated this audit to determine whether contractor-developed bioassay
programs were effectively administered.
Hazardous Chemicals Inventory Management at the Savannah River Site
Executive Compensation at Selected National Nuclear Security Administration Sites
Executive Compensation at Selected Office of Environmental Management Sites
Executive Compensation at Selected Office of Science Sites
Executive Compensation at Brookhaven National Laboratory