Current Projects
 
Search
 

Home
Search for Projects
View Projects
Project Title
by Subject/Focus Area
by Board/Committee
by Major Unit
Provisional Committee Appointments Open for Formal Public Comments
by Last Update
Meeting Information
Conflict of Interest Policy
Committee Appointment Process
FAQ
  Project Information

Project Information

 Printer Friendly Version

Project Title:

Risk-Based Approaches for Securing the DOE Nuclear Weapons Complex
PIN: NRSB-O-08-03-A        

Major Unit:

Division on Earth and Life Studies

Sub Unit: Nuclear and Radiation Studies Board

RSO: Case, Sarah

Subject/Focus Area:


Project Scope
The National Academies will advise the Department of Energy (DOE) on the augmentation of its current risk-based approach, the Design Basis Threat, for securing the nuclear weapons complex, specifically for securing nuclear weapons usable materials and facilities. The study will examine the augmentation of cyber security as well, while recognizing that cyber security and physical security present different challenges. The National Academies will:

1. Evaluate the potential applicability and feasibility of risk-based approaches, including probabilistic approaches, for securing the DOE nuclear weapons complex and document their potential strengths and weaknesses, cost effectiveness, and impediments to implementation. As part of this task, the National Academies will consider the experiences of DOE and its national laboratories, other federal agencies (e.g., Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, Nuclear Regulatory Commission), and the private sector (e.g., nuclear power industry) on the use of risk-based approaches for securing complex technological systems.

2. Evaluate whether and how dissuasion (i.e., deterrence and prevention) concepts can be incorporated into risk-based approaches to enhance security, both in terms of effectiveness and cost efficiency.

3. Provide practical and actionable findings and recommendations on the use of risk-based approaches to (i) balance physical and cyber security; and (ii) communicate within the government and with the public about security risks and costs.


The project is sponsored by the National Nuclear Security Administration, U.S. Department of Energy

The contractural start date for the project was September 9, 2008.
A report will be issued at the end of the project.


 
Project Duration: 21 months    

Provide FEEDBACK on this project.

Contact the Public Access Records Office to make an inquiry, request a list of the public access file materials, or obtain a copy of the materials found in the file.


Committee Membership
Committee Membership

Meetings
 Meeting 1 - 03/26/2009
 Meeting 2 - 06/08/2009
 Meeting 3 - 06/16/2009
 Meeting 4 - 07/20/2009
 Meeting 5 - 08/24/2009
 Meeting 6 - 09/16/2009
 Meeting 7 - 10/06/2009
 Meeting 8 - 11/05/2009

Reports

Reports having no URL can be seen
at the Public Access Records Office


© Copyright 2009 The National Academies. All rights reserved. Tel: 202.334.2000 Fax: 202.334.1800 Email: info@nas.edu