INSPECTOR GENERAL REPORT
Quality Assurance Management at the Integrated Waste Treatment Unit
DOE - Office of Inspector General | 5/21/2020
On Thursday, the Office of Inspector General released an audit report concerning the Integrated Waste Treatment Unit (IWTU) at Idaho National Laboratory site. The IWTU is "a facility designed to treat 900,000 gallons of liquid radioactive sodium-bearing waste, package the
treated waste into stainless steel canisters, and store it in above-ground vaults. The IWTU is a Hazard Category 2 nuclear facility, which has the potential for significant onsite radiological consequences. The IWTU contains safety-significant systems, structures, and components designed to protect against these consequences. Since June 2016, Fluor Idaho, LLC (Fluor Idaho) has managed the cleanup work at the Idaho National Laboratory Site. This includes a requirement to
make the IWTU fully operational for processing specified waste through the facility and storing the end product in onsite canisters and vaults. Prior to June 2016, CH2M-WG Idaho, LLC (CWI) managed the cleanup work at the Idaho National Laboratory Site, including design, construction, and operations of the IWTU. Upon initial startup in June 2012, IWTU experienced a system pressure event leading to the shutdown of the facility. Subsequent to the event, numerous design changes and
modifications were made to prepare for eventual operations. Currently, the IWTU is still not operational."
There have been past concerns about the cost increases and project delays experienced at IWTU as well as challenges with operating the facility. These concerns spurred the audit to focus efforts on understanding "whether the Department managed quality assurance requirements for procurements at the IWTU in accordance with NQA-1."
The Quality Assurance Requirements for Nuclear Facility Applications and addenda NQA-1 outlines requirements for the establishment and execution of quality assurance programs for nuclear facilities. The Idaho Operations Office provides oversight to ensure proper implementation of quality assurance at IWTU.
Results are as follows:
"We found that the Department did not always manage quality assurance requirements for procurements at the IWTU in accordance with NQA-1.
Specifically, we found that the Department’s IWTU contractors, Fluor Idaho and CWI, did not always:
- Identify the necessary quality assurance program requirement in safety-significant procurements;
- Evaluate suppliers’ capabilities to meet quality assurance requirements when providing safety-significant items; and
- Verify the reliability of suppliers’ certification systems when accepting items through a Certificate of Conformance"
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NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT
Inhofe, Reed Announce FY 2021 NDAA Markup Schedule
U.S. Senate | 5/26/2020
U.S. Senators Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) and Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today announced the full committee and subcommittee markup schedule for the National Defense Authorization Act
(NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2021.
“While we continue to address the coronavirus, we still have a sworn duty to address the threats facing our nation. For the past 59 years—in spite of any and all obstacles—the Armed Services Committee has enacted a bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act. This year will be no different; the NDAA will be a priority. The pandemic just makes it all the more important that we care for our service
members and their families, maintain peak readiness and continue modernizing and preparing for the future — just as the National Defense Strategy urges,” Senator Inhofe said. “We’ve faced some unique challenges getting to markup this year, but, together with Senator Reed and the entire Armed Services Committee, in our traditional, bipartisan fashion, I am eager to move this year’s NDAA closer to enactment for the 60th straight year.”
The NDAA will be considered in subcommittee on the following dates:
Monday, June 8:
- 2:30 PM – Subcommittee on Readiness – Russell SR-232A (CLOSED)
- 4 PM – Subcommittee on Strategic Forces – Russell SR-232A (CLOSED)
Tuesday, June 9:
- 9:30 AM – Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities – Russell SR-232A (CLOSED)
- 11 AM – Subcommittee on Airland – Russell SR-232A (CLOSED)
- 2 PM – Subcommittee on Personnel – Dirksen SD-G50 (OPEN – please see press RSVP information below)
- 3:30 PM – Subcommittee on Seapower – Russell SR-232A (CLOSED)
- 5:30 PM – Subcommittee on Cybersecurity – Russell SR-232A (CLOSED)
The NDAA will be considered by the Full Committee on the following dates:
Wednesday, June 10,
- 9:30 AM – Dirksen SD-106 (CLOSED)
If needed: Thursday, June 11,
- 9:30 AM – Dirksen SD-106 (CLOSED)
Press: The Personnel Subcommittee markup on Tuesday, June 9, at 2 PM will be open to the press, but may be limited on a first come, first served basis due to social distancing guidelines. The markup will be streamed live online at armed-services.senate.gov.
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
Senate Confirms David Wright & Christopher Hanson to Serve as NRC Commissioners
U.S. Senate | 5/21/2020
U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-WY), chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW), praised the Senate’s confirmation of the Honorable David A. Wright, nominee to be a member of the U.S.
Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC); and Christopher T. Hanson, nominee to be a member of the NRC. Wright currently serves as a member of the NRC. The Senate confirmed the two nominations by voice vote.
“The Senate has restored the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to its full slate of commissioners,” said Barrasso. “For roughly a year, the NRC has not had all five commissioners in office. Nuclear power is clean, constant, and critical to America’s energy and national security. A fully staffed NRC will help ensure the agency meets its mission, during this crucial time for America’s nuclear energy
industry.”
Read about DOE's High Level Waste Interpretation
Have questions about DOE’s recent high-level waste (HLW) interpretation? Download ECA’s Key Points and FAQs on the issue to better understand what ECA believes are the potential benefits of implementation.
Interested in learning more? Read the ECA report “Making Informed Decisions on DOE's Proposed High Level Waste Definition” at www.energyca.org/publications
Stay Current on Activities in the DOE World
Read the latest edition of the ECA Bulletin, a regular newsletter providing a detailed brief of ECA activities, legislative news, and major events from across the DOE complex. Have suggestions for future editions? Email bulletin@energyca.org.
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Learn More about Cleanup Sites with ECA's DOE Site Profiles
ECA's new site profiles detail DOE's 13 active Environmental Management cleanup sites and national laboratories, highlighting their history, missions, and priorities. The profiles are a key source for media, stakeholders, and the public to learn more about DOE site activities, contractors, advisory boards, and their surrounding local
governments.
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