DOE Nuclear Facility Inspections Results

This table summarizes the inspections of U.S. nuclear weapons complex facilities conducted from 2001 to 2003. The inspections were performed by the office of independent oversight at the Department of Energy. Out of 132 inspections of nuclear facilities conducted during the three-year period, 100 inspections resulted in "effective performance" ratings. The DOE would not reveal which sites failed to receive "effective performance" ratings. The other possible ratings are "needs improvement" and "serious weakness."

Topical Area	Inspections Resulting in "Effective Performance Rating"
*Program Management	13 of 18 Inspections
Personnel Security	15 of 17
Material Control and Accountability	9 of 13
Physical Security Systems	13 of 17
Protective Force Program	14 of 18
Classified Matter Protection and Control	15 of 18
Unclassified Cyber Security	6 of 14
Classified Cyber Security	15 of 17
Total	100 of 132 (76% Rated Effective Performance)

*A quick guide to the categories:

» Program Management includes interviews with all levels of management.

» Personnel Security relates to security clearances programs.

» Material Control and Accountability looks at how well nuclear material is tracked at the facility.

» Physical Security Systems looks at how well badge readers, control points and perimeter security systems work. Inspectors have guards try to sneak up without getting detected.

» In evaluating Protective Force, inspectors run actual drills where a team of mock terrorists tries to blow down walls (using mock explosives) and shoot the defending guards (using laser guns) to see if an attacking force could reach the nuclear material.

» Classified Matter Protection and Control relates to how classified documents are handled.

» To evaluate Cyber Security, inspectors try to break into the nuclear facility's computer systems.

Back to Main Page

E-mail this Page

 

Recipient's e-mail address:	» Up to twelve addresses, separated by commas.
Your e-mail address:
Your name:
Personal message (optional, 600 characters max):
Your NPR member station:
Are you a member of your local NPR station?	Yes    No
Would you like to receive information from your local NPR member station? (see NPR's privacy policy)	Yes    No
Please send me updates from NPR.	Yes    No
(Information collected by NPR will be used solely for internal NPR or NPR member station purposes and only if you selected 'yes' above. See NPR's privacy policy for more information.)