Agreed-Upon Procedures for Federal Payroll
The Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
maintains the safety, security, reliability and perfomiance of the United States nuclear
weapons stockpile. While the weapons incorporate numerous nuclear and non-nuclear
components or parts, even the non-nuclear parts are dcsignated as classified since
disclosure of related information could damage national security. The Department's high
risk property regulations stipulate that classified parts be accorded "lifecycle
accountability," including the use of site-wide inventory systems, regularly scheduled
inventories, and segregation of duties.
maintains the safety, security, reliability and perfomiance of the United States nuclear
weapons stockpile. While the weapons incorporate numerous nuclear and non-nuclear
components or parts, even the non-nuclear parts are dcsignated as classified since
disclosure of related information could damage national security. The Department's high
risk property regulations stipulate that classified parts be accorded "lifecycle
accountability," including the use of site-wide inventory systems, regularly scheduled
inventories, and segregation of duties.
Management of the Workers Compensation Program at Department of Energy Headquarters
The Federal Employees’ Compensation Act (FECA) provides medical and salary benefits to Federal civilian employees who
suffer work-related injuries or illnesses that prevent them from
working. The FECA program pays for medical (and associated
travel) expenses related to employees’ injuries or diseases,
provides wage compensation until they can return to work in either
their original positions or a suitable alternative position, and covers
vocational rehabilitation. The basic rate of compensation for
injured employees with no dependents is 66.67 percent of gross
wages, increasing to 75 percent if employees have one or more
dependents. All workers’ compensation benefits are tax free, and
there is no mandatory retirement age for employees collecting
benefits.
suffer work-related injuries or illnesses that prevent them from
working. The FECA program pays for medical (and associated
travel) expenses related to employees’ injuries or diseases,
provides wage compensation until they can return to work in either
their original positions or a suitable alternative position, and covers
vocational rehabilitation. The basic rate of compensation for
injured employees with no dependents is 66.67 percent of gross
wages, increasing to 75 percent if employees have one or more
dependents. All workers’ compensation benefits are tax free, and
there is no mandatory retirement age for employees collecting
benefits.
Facility Contractor Acquisition and Management of Information Technology Hardware
The Department of Energy relies heavily on information technology (IT) to accomplish
its science, weapons, energy supply and environmental mission objectives. In the past
three years, the Department has spent more than $400 million on IT hardware to facilitate
these efforts. Items routinely acquired by the Department included desktop and laptop
computers and associated peripherals, personal digital assistants, and network
infrastructure equipment.
its science, weapons, energy supply and environmental mission objectives. In the past
three years, the Department has spent more than $400 million on IT hardware to facilitate
these efforts. Items routinely acquired by the Department included desktop and laptop
computers and associated peripherals, personal digital assistants, and network
infrastructure equipment.
Expansion of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve
The Energy Policy Act of 2005 required the Department of Energy to expand the Strategic
Petroleum Reserve's (Reserve) maximum storage capacity to 1 billion barrels of crude oil. The
Department stores the oil in large underground caverns, which have been created in salt domes.
After evaluating various alternatives, the Department decided to develop a new 160 million
barrel storage facility at Richton, Mississippi, and to expand the storage capacity at two existing
Reserve facilities. As part of the evaluation, the Department eliminated a salt dome in
Bruinsburg, Mississippi, from consideration as a potential expansion site. According to
Department officials, the Bruinsburg site was not selected because (1) the salt dome was too
small to meet storage needs, and (2) the site presented significant technical risks since thc
Department would have to use deep injection wells to dispose of nearly 1.2 million barrels per
day of brine used to excavate the caverns.
Petroleum Reserve's (Reserve) maximum storage capacity to 1 billion barrels of crude oil. The
Department stores the oil in large underground caverns, which have been created in salt domes.
After evaluating various alternatives, the Department decided to develop a new 160 million
barrel storage facility at Richton, Mississippi, and to expand the storage capacity at two existing
Reserve facilities. As part of the evaluation, the Department eliminated a salt dome in
Bruinsburg, Mississippi, from consideration as a potential expansion site. According to
Department officials, the Bruinsburg site was not selected because (1) the salt dome was too
small to meet storage needs, and (2) the site presented significant technical risks since thc
Department would have to use deep injection wells to dispose of nearly 1.2 million barrels per
day of brine used to excavate the caverns.
Follow-Up Audit of the National Nuclear Security Administration's Implementation of the 2003 Design Basis Threat Policy
The National Nuclear Security Administration has seven sites that possess Category I special
nuclear material (SNM), which requires the highest level of protection under the Department of
Energy's Design Basis Threat (DBT) policy. The DBT policy reflects the most credible threats to
Departmental assets and operations. In May 2003, the Department revised the DBT to reflect the
threat environment existing after the attacks of September 1 1,2001, including terrorism.
Changes to site protection programs to implement the 2003 DBT were to be completed by the
end of Fiscal Year (FY) 2006.
nuclear material (SNM), which requires the highest level of protection under the Department of
Energy's Design Basis Threat (DBT) policy. The DBT policy reflects the most credible threats to
Departmental assets and operations. In May 2003, the Department revised the DBT to reflect the
threat environment existing after the attacks of September 1 1,2001, including terrorism.
Changes to site protection programs to implement the 2003 DBT were to be completed by the
end of Fiscal Year (FY) 2006.