Federal Reports

The OIG completed agreed-upon procedures to assist the Center for Resource Solutions (CRS) in determining TVA's compliance with the annual reporting requirements of the CRS Green Pricing Accreditation Program for the year ended December 31, 2012. The results of the procedures performed, which were related to TVA's renewable energy initiative, "Green Power Switch," were provided to the CRS. Summary Only

We audited the risk program at Bellefonte Nuclear Plant (BLN) to determine the adequacy of TVA's consideration of risks associated with the construction of BLN Unit 1. The scope included BLN construction risk management program activities beginning August 2009 through November 2011 and subsequent changes to the risk management program. We determined that while a renewed emphasis has been placed on BLN's risk management program, previous program failures indicated significant improvements to the program were needed. Specifically, we identified a lack of a strong continuity in the risk management process, which affected program effectiveness. This lack of continuity included ineffective guidance and oversight of BLN's risk program by former TVA management and a lack of documentation for key risk information allowing for facilitation of the risk program. A new risk manager has been assigned to pilot and implement a new risk management process. As part of these renewed efforts, the new Risk Manager has taken steps to address these actions. We commend current BLN project management for taking steps to address guidance, oversight, and documentation. Current BLN project management recognized the failures of the initial attempts to develop and implement the risk management program, and the new processes being implemented are steps in the right direction. We verbally communicated an additional action that can be taken to ensure history does not repeat itself as the project moves forward. This action included the clarification and clear communication of (1) whether risk mitigation activities are to be included in the contingency estimate controlled at the project level and the management reserve amount controlled at the corporate level and (2) what that means in terms of the project's estimated cost. Summary Only

We found that for the time period covered by our audit, Miami-Dade County Public Schools could not reconcile about $2.3 million in Recovery Act Title I funds and about $1.2 million in IDEA funds with the Florida Department of Education’s Cash Advance and Reporting of Disbursements System. As a result, we could not determine whether data that Miami-Dade reported to the Florida Department of Education, which was in turn reported on the Recovery Act Web site, was accurate. We also found that Miami-Dade improperly classified more than $400,000 in transportation costs as supply costs. We recommended that the Florida Department of Education require Miami-Dade to develop and implement adequate fiscal and management controls to maintain reliable financial records.

As a result of delays and overruns on the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Watts Bar Nuclear Unit 2 (WBN U2) construction project, questions have been raised about the quality of the work performed. Nuclear Construction (NC) Quality Assurance (QA) plays a key role in ensuring that work completed meets high-quality standards. The objective of our review was to determine if the NC QA program was effective in its oversight of the WBN U2 construction project. We found NC QA has generally been effective in its oversight of the construction project; however, a breakdown in the QA program resulted in a lack of oversight in one area. With the exception of the breakdown in QA discussed below, no significant issues were identified. In addition, we reviewed documentation that showed NC QA conducted oversight activities and Bechtel performed QA activities. As issues were identified, Problem Evaluation Reports (PERs) were generated to address those issues. A breakdown in the QA program related to the commercial-grade dedication program was identified by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). Specifically, there was no oversight of the commercial-grade dedication program by QA since 2008. In response, TVA conducted an evaluation to see if problems existed in other areas. TVA's evaluation found a few areas that required minor adjustments, and those adjustments were made. Furthermore, TVA assembled an independent, technical team to review commercial-grade dedication packages, and as of May 2013, no significant issues had been identified. We also found, that while the turnover of one system has occurred, a process for transitioning the authority for the execution of the QA program from Bechtel QA to NC QA has not been implemented, which could limit the effectiveness of the NC QA's oversight efforts. The process for transition of authority from Bechtel QA to NC QA will provide evidence that the construction phase QA requirements in the Nuclear Quality Assurance Plan have been met and also help to prevent any steps or reviews from being missed. We made recommendations to management to address the findings in the report.