Inspection of Cost Recovery Concerns at the Office of Scientific and Technical Information
The Office of Inspector General (OIG), U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), received a complaint concerning possible misuse of cost recovery funds at the Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI). Specifically, it was alleged that: 1) some cost recovery funds from DOE’s Office of Defense Programs were placed in OSTI’s “general fund” and used for miscellaneous expenses unrelated to the Work Authorization provided by Defense Programs; 2) some cost recovery funds were used to cover Federal employee salaries; and 3) Defense Programs funds were used to purchase a computer server which was not used for a Defense Programs project. As you know, since the inception of our
review, the Office of Defense Programs has become part of the National Nuclear Security Administration.
review, the Office of Defense Programs has become part of the National Nuclear Security Administration.
Polling by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
This is a follow up to my discussion with the Deputy Secretary yesterday concerning the above subject.
Best Practices for Environmental Management Baseline Development
In February 1999, you directed the Office of Environmental Management (EM) to implement controls to correct weaknesses in the environmental liability estimate identified during the Fiscal
Year 1998 financial statement audit. You also requested the Office of Inspector General (OIG) to conduct an interim status review to ensure that these controls were sufficient to correct the weaknesses. In August 1999, the OIG reported that completed and planned corrective actions by EM and the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) should improve the liability estimate. These actions also had a positive impact on EM's project management through improvements in its baseline development processes.
Year 1998 financial statement audit. You also requested the Office of Inspector General (OIG) to conduct an interim status review to ensure that these controls were sufficient to correct the weaknesses. In August 1999, the OIG reported that completed and planned corrective actions by EM and the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) should improve the liability estimate. These actions also had a positive impact on EM's project management through improvements in its baseline development processes.
Experimental Breeder Reactor II Termination Activities
In February 1994, Congress directed that the Department of Energy immediately terminate its Advanced
Liquid Metal Reactor Program (Reactor Program) and close the Experimental Breeder Reactor II (EBR II).
The Reactor Program was a scientific effort to test and develop advanced nuclear reactor technology using
EBR II. The Reactor Program and EBR II are located at the Argonne National Laboratory-West site in
Idaho. The Office of Nuclear Energy, Science and Technology (Nuclear Energy), is the Headquarters
program office responsible for this effort. To date, the Department has provided about $444 million for
termination activities, of which about $55 million has been spent specifically on EBR II closure. The
objective of the audit was to determine whether the Department and Nuclear Energy had taken action to
achieve the expeditious closure of EBR II.
Liquid Metal Reactor Program (Reactor Program) and close the Experimental Breeder Reactor II (EBR II).
The Reactor Program was a scientific effort to test and develop advanced nuclear reactor technology using
EBR II. The Reactor Program and EBR II are located at the Argonne National Laboratory-West site in
Idaho. The Office of Nuclear Energy, Science and Technology (Nuclear Energy), is the Headquarters
program office responsible for this effort. To date, the Department has provided about $444 million for
termination activities, of which about $55 million has been spent specifically on EBR II closure. The
objective of the audit was to determine whether the Department and Nuclear Energy had taken action to
achieve the expeditious closure of EBR II.
Security Overtime at the Oak Ridge Operations Office
Historically, the Oak Ridge Operations Office (Operations Office) has obtained security services
from its site operating contractors. Until recently, Lockheed Martin Energy Systems, Inc., (LMES)
was responsible for operating the three major sites in Oak Ridge and providing security services at
these sites. In Calendar Year (CY) 1999, LMES' Security Division worked 186,000 hours of
overtime, at a cost of $5.1 million, accounting for 50 percent of LMES' total overtime hours for the
year.
from its site operating contractors. Until recently, Lockheed Martin Energy Systems, Inc., (LMES)
was responsible for operating the three major sites in Oak Ridge and providing security services at
these sites. In Calendar Year (CY) 1999, LMES' Security Division worked 186,000 hours of
overtime, at a cost of $5.1 million, accounting for 50 percent of LMES' total overtime hours for the
year.