LAWMAKERS REQUIRE DNFSB TO GET INSPECTOR GENERAL

The Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board will be required to employ an Inspector General under the Fiscal Year 2012 Omnibus Appropriations Act approved by Congress late last week. For FY 2012-2013, the Board would be required to enter into an agreement with the IG of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and then would be directed to “enter into an enduring procurement with a provider of inspector general services thereafter,” according to a managers’ statement accompanying the bill. For this fiscal year, the Board will be funded at approximately $29 million, matching the DNFSB’s FY 2012 budget request and representing an increase of $3 million from the Board’s FY 2010 appropriated funding level. In its request, the Board said the bulk of the additional money would be used to hire 17 new full-time equivalent positions “to address additional workload requirements under its statutory authority (safety and health independent oversight of Department of Energy (DOE) defense nuclear facilities).”