The Department of Energy’s Response to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita
Quality Assurance Weaknesses in the Review of Yucca Mountain Electronic Mail for Relevancy to the Licensing Process
In 2002, Congress approved construction of a geological
waste repository in Yucca Mountain, Nevada, to dispose of spent
nuclear fuel and radioactive waste. Prior to construction, the
Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) must grant the Department
of Energy (DOE) a license to build the facility. As part of the
licensing process, DOE is required to publicly disclose all
documents relevant to the licensing process, including electronic
mail (e-mail), by posting them on DOE’s public website. The
website is accessible through the NRC-sponsored Licensing Support
Network (LSN). The DOE Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste
Management (OCRWM) is responsible for all aspects of the Yucca
Mountain Project (Yucca), including the licensing application
process
waste repository in Yucca Mountain, Nevada, to dispose of spent
nuclear fuel and radioactive waste. Prior to construction, the
Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) must grant the Department
of Energy (DOE) a license to build the facility. As part of the
licensing process, DOE is required to publicly disclose all
documents relevant to the licensing process, including electronic
mail (e-mail), by posting them on DOE’s public website. The
website is accessible through the NRC-sponsored Licensing Support
Network (LSN). The DOE Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste
Management (OCRWM) is responsible for all aspects of the Yucca
Mountain Project (Yucca), including the licensing application
process
Accelerated Tank Waste Retrieval Activities at the Hanford Site
The Department will not meet Tri-Party Agreement (Agreement) milestones for the retrieval of waste from the single-shell tanks
located at the C-Tank Farm within schedule and cost. Based on
the current C-Tank Farm retrieval schedule and the amount of
waste retrieved to date, the Department will not accomplish its
milestone within schedule and cost.
located at the C-Tank Farm within schedule and cost. Based on
the current C-Tank Farm retrieval schedule and the amount of
waste retrieved to date, the Department will not accomplish its
milestone within schedule and cost.
Management of the Clean Cities Conference
The National Nuclear Security Administration's Implementation of the 2003 Design Basis Threat
The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) has
Threat Progress experienced delays in implementing permanent upgrades,
including new technologies, to meet the increased threat
identified in the 2003 Design Basis Threat (DBT). Instead,
NNSA is relying on more costly interim measures to meet
the requirements of the DBT by the end of Fiscal Year
(FY) 2006. The Department has not, however, fully
evaluated the effectiveness of either the interim measures
or the planned permanent upgrades for all sites that possess
special nuclear material.=1;
Threat Progress experienced delays in implementing permanent upgrades,
including new technologies, to meet the increased threat
identified in the 2003 Design Basis Threat (DBT). Instead,
NNSA is relying on more costly interim measures to meet
the requirements of the DBT by the end of Fiscal Year
(FY) 2006. The Department has not, however, fully
evaluated the effectiveness of either the interim measures
or the planned permanent upgrades for all sites that possess
special nuclear material.=1;
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's Unclassified Cyber Security Program—2005
Regulatory Commission (Commission) had taken steps to
strengthen its cyber security program and implemented
countermeasures to reduce network vulnerabilities
addressed in our previous evaluation reports. Specifically,
the Commission improved the Continuity of Operations
Plan and system-specific disaster recovery plans. In
addition, a System Development Life Cycle manual was
developed and finalized to ensure that all information
technology systems support Federal statutes and the
Commission's business and strategic objectiveseg, i
strengthen its cyber security program and implemented
countermeasures to reduce network vulnerabilities
addressed in our previous evaluation reports. Specifically,
the Commission improved the Continuity of Operations
Plan and system-specific disaster recovery plans. In
addition, a System Development Life Cycle manual was
developed and finalized to ensure that all information
technology systems support Federal statutes and the
Commission's business and strategic objectiveseg, i