For several years, the Office of Inspector General has reported on integraion and system development problems encountered by a number of the Department's program offices. We initiated this audit to determine whether the Department had adopted an integrated and cost-effective approach for developing and maintaining personnel security and physical access control information systems.
Request to testify regarding recent allegations associated with occupational medical services and tank farm vapor exposures at the Hanford Site. During the Cold War, the United States’ nuclear weapons complex generated large amounts of hazardous and radioactive waste. The Department of Energy is responsible for the cleanup of numerous contaminated sites and facilities that supported nuclear weapons production activities. Associated with this is the need to protect the
safety and health of the Department’s workforce and the citizens in the communities surrounding these cleanup sites. For several years, my office has identified environmental cleanup and worker and community safety as significant challenges facing the Department.
safety and health of the Department’s workforce and the citizens in the communities surrounding these cleanup sites. For several years, my office has identified environmental cleanup and worker and community safety as significant challenges facing the Department.
Statement of Gregory H. Friedman, Inspector General U.S. Department of Energy Subject: Allegations Associated with Occupational Medical Services and Tank Farm Vapor Exposures at the Hanford Site
Internal Controls Over Methamphetamine Precursor Chemicals at the Y-12 National Security Complex and the Oak Ridge National Laboratory
The Tennessee Ninth Judicial Drug Task Force requested support from the Office Inspector General (OIG) for the Task Force's efforts to address the growing problem of illegal methamphetamine production in Tennessee. Specifically, the OIG was asked to evaluate the potential for certain chemicals to be stolen from Department of Energy (DOE) facilities in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, for possible use in the illicit production of methamphetamine. The Task Force has been aggressively trying to control the availability of methamphetamine precursor chemicals within its area of responsibility, which includes the region where DOE's Oak Ridge facilities are located. Methamphetamine is recognized as the third greatest drug threat in Tennessee and is the most prevalent synthetic illegal drug manufactured in the United States.
On February 24, 2004, you requested that the Office of Inspector General (OIG) conduct an investigation of activities associated with the provision of occupational medical services to U.S. Department of Energy and contractor employees at the Hanford Site. In response to your request, OIG Special Agents initiated and investigation into specific events and incidents involving alleged criminal misconduct.
Investigation of Allegations Involving Occupational Medical Services and Tank Farm Vapor Exposures at the Hanford Site
Major Clean-up Projects at the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory
Over the last 50 years, the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (INEEL) became the temporary storage site for large amounts of the Deparment of Energy's (Department) spent nuclear fuel, transuranic waste, and high-level waste. In order to appropriately treat, store, and ultimately ship this waste, the Department undertook several major cleanup projects. Among these projects were the Advanced Mixed Waste Treatement Project (AMWTP), the Dry Storage Project for Spent Nuclear Fuel (SNF), and the Three Mile Island Project. Certain expectations for these and other projects were formalized in October 1995.
The Department's Reporting of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses