Sec. 3122. Extension of principles of pilot program to additional facilities of the nuclear security enterprise
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/bill/113/hr/1960/eh/section-3122A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
Congress finds the following: In April 2006, the Administrator for Nuclear Security initiated a pilot program to improve and streamline oversight of the Kansas City Plant of the National Nuclear Security Administration. In a memorandum initiating the pilot, the Administrator cited slow progress in implementing previous efforts to streamline such oversight, saying that such slow progress is a reflection of excessive risk aversion . The pilot program shifted away from reliance on directives of the Department of Energy and toward third-party certification and industrial standards whenever possible—but the pilot program specifically exempted certain high-hazard operations from its scope.
An independent assessment conducted one year after initiation of the pilot found approximately $14,000,000 had been saved in fiscal year 2007 because of the pilot program. The independent assessment found that the replacement of Department of Energy prescriptive requirements with site specific standards and operating systems was observed to be a significant cost reduction driver * * * in several business areas, this reduction was accomplished by moving toward the use of metrics and benchmarks rather than transactional oversight. .
The independent assessment further found that no immediate or negative impacts were observed as a result of the pilot program and that the lessons learned at [the Kansas City Plant] can and should be applied at other NNSA and DOE sites , while acknowledging that application of such lessons would be limited by the presence of high-risk, high-hazard activities at such locations. The independent assessment concluded, it is our opinion that these elements can be encouraged and developed over time at each NNSA facility, subject to the limitations made necessary by the nature of the site. .
Except as provided by paragraph (2), the Administrator for Nuclear Security shall— ensure that the principles of the pilot program are permanently implemented at the Kansas City Plant of the National Nuclear Security Administration; and in accordance with paragraph (3), extend such principles of the pilot program, with modifications as the Administrator determines appropriate, to not less than two additional facilities of the nuclear security enterprise (as defined in section 4002(5) of the Atomic Energy Defense Act ( 50 U.S.C. 2501(5) ), with such principles commencing at each facility not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act.
In carrying out the extension of the principles of the pilot program pursuant to subparagraph
(A)and
(B)of paragraph (1), the Administrator— may exempt high-hazard or high-risk activities from such extension; shall exempt nuclear operations from such extension; and shall focus the initial extension of such principles on low-risk, high-reward initiatives. In extending the principles of the pilot program to not less than two facilities under paragraph (1)(B), the Administrator shall certify to the appropriate congressional committees that— the management and operating contractor for such a facility has sufficiently mature processes, as well as high performance, to enable the extension without undue risk; and Federal oversight mechanisms are in place and sufficiently mature to enable the extension without undue risk. If the Administrator cannot make a certification under subparagraph
(A)with respect to a facility— the Administrator shall delay the extension of the principles of the pilot program to such facility until the date on which the Administrator makes such certification; and not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report regarding— the improvements to processes, procedures, and performance that are required to make such certification; a plan with respect to the activities that the Administrator will carry out to make such improvements; and the date by which the Administrator expects to make such certification and extend the principles of the pilot program. In this subsection: The term appropriate congressional committees means the following: The congressional defense committees. The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives. The term principles of the pilot program means the principles regarding the use of third-party certification, industrial standards, best business practices, and verification of internal procedures and performance to improve and streamline oversight, as demonstrated in the pilot program at the Kansas City Plant of the Administration described in subsection (a)(1).
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Sec. 3122
Extension of principles of pilot program to additional facilities of the nuclear security enterprise
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