Audit of the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board’s Review Agendas

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Date Issued

Friday, August 1, 2025

Submitting OIG

Nuclear Regulatory Commission OIG

Agencies Reviewed/Investigated

Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board

Report Number

OIG-DNFSB-25-A-04

Report Description

The OIG found approximately half of the DNFSB’s planned Review Agendas for Fiscal Years 2019 through 2024 were carryovers from prior years. Some of these carryover reviews were delayed, and in those cases, justifications for delays were not consistently recorded. Moreover, the OIG found that the DNFSB does not have a structured Knowledge Management Program, and DNFSB Review Agenda guidance is not aligned with its current process.

The report contains three recommendations to update and improve the agency’s Review Agenda process.

Report Type

Audit

Agency Wide

Yes

Number of Recommendations

Questioned Costs

Funds for Better Use

Report updated under NDAA 5274

Open Recommendations

This report has 3 open recommendations.

Recommendation Number	Significant Recommendation	Recommended Questioned Costs	Recommended Funds for Better Use	Additional Details
1.1	Yes	$0	$0	Agency Response Dated September 3, 2025: As stated in OIG-DNFSB-25-A-04, Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board (DNFSB) published Technical Director’s Standing Order 2025-1, Timeliness in Work Execution, in December 2024. This standing order addresses the findings of the DNFSB’s 2023 self-assessment, which align with OIG’s recommendations on strengthening scheduling practices. DNFSB will review the effectiveness of these actions at the end of fiscal year 2025, make improvements, and institutionalize as part of planned updates to I-530, Execution of Technical Staff Reviews, and OP-530.1, DNFSB will complete these updates by December 31, 2025. OIG Analysis: The DNFSB’s response meets the intent of the recommendation. The OIG will review the updated versions of I-530 and OP-530.1 upon completion at the end of December 2025. This recommendation is open and resolved.
The OIG recommends the DNFSB update the Review Agenda guidance to include a scheduling technique and a timeliness metric.
2.1	Yes	$0	$0	Agency Response Dated September 3, 2025: DNFSB will implement a knowledge management portal to provide its staff with a centralized location to find information from past safety reviews, discipline specific job aids, and process checklists by December 31, 2025. OIG Analysis: The DNFSB’s response meets the intent of the recommendation. The OIG will review the Knowledge Management portal upon its scheduled completion in December 2025 to verify the details described above. This recommendation is open and resolved.
The OIG recommends the DNFSB develop and implement a Knowledge Management program to systematically record Review Agenda knowledge in a centralized location, to strengthen the overall training program.
3.1	Yes	$0	$0	Agency Response Dated September 3, 2025: DNFSB will update I-530, Execution of Technical Staff Reviews, and OP-530.1, Developing Agendas for Technical Staff Reviews, by December 31, 2025. OIG Analysis: The DNFSB’s response meets the intent of the recommendation. The OIG will review the updated I-530 and OP-530.1 for the corrections made to the deficiencies identified in DNFSB’s self-assessment at the end of December 2025. This recommendation is open and resolved.
The OIG recommends the DNFSB update Instruction-530.1, Execution of Technical Staff Reviews and the associated Operating Procedures to align with the current Review Agenda process and correct the deficiencies noted in the DNFSB’s self-assessment.