Kenneth Fletcher
WC Monitor
5/29/2015
The Department of Energy has taken steps to improve controls and accountability of nuclear materials at the Portsmouth site after a DOE Office of Inspector General inspection found weaknesses there, according to an IG report released this week. The site uses the Portsmouth Materials Accountability System to track the location and makeup of nuclear material, but the IG found that in the last year nuclear material in about 100 containers was not properly reported in the system. Additionally, in one instance, a tamper indicating device covering a container was not replaced after it was found to have a hole.
While nothing indicated that required controls were not in place, improvements should be made, the IG report states. “These weaknesses could have resulted in the potential undetected loss of nuclear material, losses which could affect the health and safety of employees and the general public,” the report states. “However, according to Portsmouth officials, the risk of potential loss of low attractiveness level nuclear material is reduced due to effective access controls. Nevertheless, we believe improvements are warranted in these areas and have made recommendations designed to assist management in ensuring all nuclear material is accounted for.”
DOE Says It Has Addressed IG’s Recommendations
DOE said it has since addressed those issues, including three IG recommendations involving recording material in the accountability system and following requirements related to tamper indicating devices. DOE also emphasized that it is “confident that there has not been a loss of material,” according to a management response by acting DOE cleanup chief Mark Whitney. “The report identified a potential to lose material at the Portsmouth site,” the response states. “However, assurance that there has been no loss of material is provided by the strength of the Portsmouth Nuclear Materials Control and Accountability (NMC&A) program that includes physical access controls; regular, thorough inventories; and a multi-faceted NMC&A Assessment Program, all of which are in according with the Department of Energy’s directives.”
