Nuclear Safety: Unresolved Issues Could Impair DOE's Oversight Effectiveness

DOE has reported to GAO that it fulfilled this recommendation with the issuance of a new "Manual of Functions, Assignments, and Responsibilities for Nuclear Safety" in July 1994. This manual is based on DOE's existing orders and outlines the nuclear safety-related responsibilities of various DOE officials. While this manual does clarify the responsibilities of DOE officials for ensuring nuclear safety, it does not establish a systematic approach for the ES&H Office to elevate issues up the chain of command within DOE. The Oversight Office of DOE's ES&H Office has started to provide weekly reports to the Assistant Secretary for ES&H and the Under Secretary on major issues compiled by the Office's site representatives. While this step moves the Department farther toward fulfilling this recommendation, it does not establish a systematic, institutionalized process for elevating issues to the Secretary when necessary.

To separate its oversight activities from its assistance activities, the ES&H Office, in a December 1994 reorganization, placed its ES&H oversight functions within one suboffice responsible solely for oversight. In November 1995, the ES&H Office established procedures for ensuring the independence of this new Oversight Office and its staff. Finally, in May 1996, the ES&H Office removed its nuclear safety enforcement and investigations staff from a suboffice responsible for assisting DOE facilities in improving nuclear safety, and relocated them to report directly to the Assistant Secretary for ES&H.

ES&H Office oversight officials have determined their overall staffing requirements for conducting oversight but have not been able to fill some nuclear safety oversight positions because of a hiring freeze. However, the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Oversight believes that ES&H has been able to compensate for this situation by better utilizing existing staff. For example, it has developed site teams, composed of headquarters and site representative staff, that are responsible for oversight of particular sites. According to the Director of the office responsible for enforcing nuclear safety standards, it is difficult to determine the number of staff required because it is just beginning enforcement activities. It has 5 staff and are authorized to hire 4 more. He believes that this number is adequate for now.