November 23, 2016
By:
Walter G. Wright
Category:
Arkansas Environmental, Energy, and Water Law
Arkansas Environmental, Energy, and Water Law
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The United States Department of Energy (“DOE”) Office of Inspector General (“OIG”) has issued a November 16th “Special Report” titled Management Challenges of the Department of Energy – Fiscal Year 2017 (“Report”). See OIG-SR-17-02.
OIG states as to the Report’s purpose:
- The agency annually identifies what it considers to be the most significant management challenges facing the agency
- The goal is to focus attention on significant issues with the objective of working with DOE managers to enhance the effectiveness of agency programs and operations
OIG introduces the Report by noting that DOE is responsible for some of the United States most complex and technologically advanced missions. The missions include:
- Cutting edge work in basic and applied sciences
- Clean energy innovation
- Energy efficiency and conservation
- Environmental cleanup
- Nuclear weapons stewardship
- Efforts to enhance national security
OIG states that DOE:
- Receives an annual appropriation of approximately $30 billion
- Employs approximately 108,000 federal and contractor personnel
- Manages assets valued at $182.2 billion
- Operates 17 national research department laboratories
OIG annually identifies what it considers to be the most significant management challenges facing DOE. Its goal is to focus attention on significant issues with the objective of working with DOE managers to enhance the effectiveness of agency programs and operations.
The OIG Report states that fiscal year 2017 challenge areas remain largely consistent with those in previous years. However, it cites one of what it characterizes as a “notable change.” The FY 2017 management challenges are stated to include:
- Financial Assistance in Contract Management
- Cyber Security
- Environmental Cleanup
- Nuclear Waste Disposal
- Safeguards and Security
- Stockpile stewardship
- Infrastructure Moderation
The cited change in the 2017 Report is stated to be the addition of Financial Assistance Management to the management challenges list.
The Report also references a “Watch List.” These are described as issues that did not meet the threshold of the management challenge but warrant special attention by DOE officials. For FY 2017 the Watch List includes:
- Human Capital Management
- Loan Guarantee Program
- Worker and Community Safety
A copy of the DOE OIG Report can be downloaded here.
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