Audit Report: IG-0845

The Department of Energy's diverse mission is directly related to helping resolve many of the energy, environmental, and nuclear security challenges that face the Nation. As a
consequence, the Department's operations involve dangerous substances such as nuclear and hazardous materials. In this context, the Department must: (i) ensure that it can quickly and effectively respond to emergencies at its facilities; and, (ii) be prepared to maintain or resume mission-related work following an emergency. The National Nuclear
Security Administration (NNSA) has responsibility for developing the Department's overall emergency preparedness and continuity planning policy. Individual Department elements, including NNSA, are responsible for implementing those requirements. Effective emergency preparedness, response, and recovery require coordinated planning and actions by many parties. As part of this overall preparedness strategy, comprehensive Continuity of Operations (COOP) planning ensures that essential
Department, program, and site functions continue during and following a major disruption. An Office of Inspector General report on The Department's Continuity Planning and Emergency Preparedness (DOE/IG-0657, August 2004) found that the Department had not implemented effective continuity of operations and emergency preparedness programs. The Department agreed to correct the problems addressed in the 2004 report.
Because of the significance of the issues involved here, we initiated this audit to determine whether the Department had corrected previously reported problems and implemented an effective and comprehensive emergency preparedness program.