Management of Beryllium Metal Supply
The Department of Energy (Department) uses beryllium metal to
fabricate weapons components and to facilitate a number of weaponsrelated
experiments. Based on its analysis of the President's 2001
Nuclear Posture Review, the National Nuclear Security Administration
(NNSA) estimated that it would need approximately 90 tons of
beryllium metal to meet mission requirements over the next 30 years.
About 50 tons of the material is currently available for purchase from
the Defense Department's National Defense Stockpile. Because the
only domestic producer of beryllium metal from ore ceased production
in 2000, NNSA had been uncertain how it would overcome the
perceived shortfall.
fabricate weapons components and to facilitate a number of weaponsrelated
experiments. Based on its analysis of the President's 2001
Nuclear Posture Review, the National Nuclear Security Administration
(NNSA) estimated that it would need approximately 90 tons of
beryllium metal to meet mission requirements over the next 30 years.
About 50 tons of the material is currently available for purchase from
the Defense Department's National Defense Stockpile. Because the
only domestic producer of beryllium metal from ore ceased production
in 2000, NNSA had been uncertain how it would overcome the
perceived shortfall.
Personnel Security Clearances and Badge Access Controls at Selected Field Locations
At each of the four locations we visited – the Oak Ridge Reservation
(Oak Ridge), the Savannah River Site (Savannah River), and the Sandia
and Los Alamos National Laboratories (Sandia and Los Alamos) – we
selected random samples of contractor and other non-federal workers to
determine whether badges had been recovered when the workers
terminated their association with the Department. Although there were
some discrepancies at three of the four locations, only at Oak Ridge was
the number of discrepancies significant.
(Oak Ridge), the Savannah River Site (Savannah River), and the Sandia
and Los Alamos National Laboratories (Sandia and Los Alamos) – we
selected random samples of contractor and other non-federal workers to
determine whether badges had been recovered when the workers
terminated their association with the Department. Although there were
some discrepancies at three of the four locations, only at Oak Ridge was
the number of discrepancies significant.
Review of the Department's Administration of Financial Instruments
Recruitment and Retention of Personnel in the Department of Energy
Testify on the Office of Inspector General’s recent inquiry concerning Los
Alamos National Laboratory.
Alamos National Laboratory.
Federal Managers' Financial Integrity Act Audit Report
National Nuclear Security Administration's Nuclear Explosive Safety Study Program
To ensure the protection of the public, employees, facilities, and the
environment from nuclear explosive accidents, Department of Energy
(Department) policy specifies that a team of nuclear explosive safety
experts must independently review nuclear explosive operations1 every
five years. This review process is called a Nuclear Explosive Safety
(NES) study. To conduct the NES study, experts rely on a variety of
data including safety basis documentation. Various reports provide
comprehensive evaluations of the potential hazards inherent to nuclear
explosive operations, such as weapons being dropped, and processes
developed to mitigate or eliminate these hazards.C1
environment from nuclear explosive accidents, Department of Energy
(Department) policy specifies that a team of nuclear explosive safety
experts must independently review nuclear explosive operations1 every
five years. This review process is called a Nuclear Explosive Safety
(NES) study. To conduct the NES study, experts rely on a variety of
data including safety basis documentation. Various reports provide
comprehensive evaluations of the potential hazards inherent to nuclear
explosive operations, such as weapons being dropped, and processes
developed to mitigate or eliminate these hazards.C1