Review of the Allegations Involving Pantex’s Emergency Management Program
March 16, 2017
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March 16, 2017
Review of the Allegations Involving Pantex’s Emergency Management Program
The National Nuclear Security Administration’s (NNSA) Pantex Plant (Pantex) is the nation’s primary site for assembly and disassembly of nuclear weapons. Pantex maintains hazardous materials, which include special nuclear material, and is required to have an emergency management program that includes preparing for and responding to all emergencies relating to these materials. The Defense Nuclear Facility Safety Board (DNFSB) is an independent Federal entity authorized to review and evaluate the content and implementation of the standards relating to the design, construction, operation and decommissioning of defense nuclear facilities. Over the past 2 years, the DNFSB has conducted a number of reviews and has issued recommendation reports regarding emergency management programs at the Department of Energy’s defense nuclear facilities, including Pantex.
The Office of Inspector General received a complaint that alleged management weaknesses in Pantex’s Emergency Management Program. The objective of our evaluation was to examine the facts and circumstances regarding the allegation of management weaknesses in Pantex’s Emergency Management Program.
During our evaluation, we noted that subject matter expert reports from Departmental organizations, such as NNSA’s Office of Safety and Health, and the DNFSB, identified management weaknesses in Pantex’s Emergency Management Program similar to those contained in the allegation. Examples of emergency management program weakness identified in the subject matter expert reports include, but are not limited to: Training, drills, and exercises were not always adequately planned, conducted, or completed timely and program self-assessments did not always identify program weaknesses. Additionally, emergency management program weaknesses were not always tracked and adequately addressed at Pantex. Finally, emergency response weaknesses that were identified by independent review groups had not always been identified by Pantex management.
Because the Department and the DNFSB have identified weaknesses in the Department’s Emergency Management Program at Pantex similar to those contained in the allegation and a milestone plan was developed to resolve those weaknesses, we are not making any formal recommendations or suggested actions.
Topic: NNSA