# Presentation: 813047

## Accreditation... 
The Next Step

John Bolling, CEM
BWXT Y-12

**The Next Step**
**John Bolling, CEM**
- BWXT Y-12

## Emergency Management Accreditation is...

- The receipt of a certificate formally recognizing a site/organization as conforming to some specific body of regulations and standards. The accreditation is the result of an independent peer review.  It is essentially a compliance audit.

## Existing DOE Accreditation Programs

- DOE Laboratory Accreditation Program (DOE LAP) for Radiobioassay (DOE-STD-1112-98)
- DOE Laboratory Accreditation Program for Personnel Dosimetry Systems (DOE-STD-1095-95)
- Accreditation Process for Information Systems (DOE N 205.9)

## DOE LAP Experiences in Accreditation

- Initial assessments identified findings mainly from inadequate documentation of existing processes
- Follow-up assessments typically result in few findings and reflect the maintenance of high quality programs
- Proficiency testing consistently supports programmatic assessments
- Accreditation process has created solid, defensible programs

## Why we need it...

- Demonstrates discipline and accountability in regularly reviewing, maintaining, and documenting compliance with standards and best practices
- Builds trust with the public, our neighbors, and other response/oversight organizations by ensuring that the program is competent to carry out specific tasks
- Reduces the organization’s vulnerability and focuses attention on areas that need improvement
- Provides recognition of excellence and promotes alliance with other accredited organizations/sites

## Results of RecentOA-30 Inspections

| Hazards Surveys & HA | SW | SW | NI | NI | NI | SW | EP | NI | NI | EP | NI | NI | EP |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Program Plans & Procedures | NI | NA | SW | SW | EP | NI | NI | NI | NI | NI | EP | EP | EP |
| Emergency Exercises | NA | NA | NI | EP | NA | NI | NI | EP | EP | EP | EP | EP | EP |
| Emergency Public Information | NA | NA | NI | NA | NA | EP | NI | NA | NA | NI | NA | EP | NA |
| Training, Drills and Exercises | NA | NA | NI | NI | NA | NI | NI | EP | EP | EP | EP | EP | NI |
| Response Decision-Making | SW | NI | NI | NI | SW | EP | NI | NI | NA | NI | EP | EP | EP |
| DOE /NNSA Performance Monitoring | SW | NI | NI | SW | EP | NI | NI | NA | NA | EP | NI | NI | EP |
| Contractor Assessments and Issues Mgmt | NA | NA | NI | NI | NA | NI | NI | EP | EP | NI | EP | EP | EP |

**Effective Performance – EP**
**Needs Improvement – NI**
**Significant Weakness – SW**
**Not Assessed – NA**

## Emergency Management Accreditation (EMA) Approach

- A voluntary accreditation process based on compliance with the standards set forth in DOE Order 151.1B and the Emergency Management Guide (EMG)
- EMG will define the EMA process
- Integration with self-assessment and compliance assurance systems
- Scalability: commensurate with site hazards

## Compliance Assurance

- Implements a systems-engineered approach to compliance assurance
- Verifies that Emergency Management Programs are in compliance with requirements and expectations
- Targets oversight resources in areas that create the greatest benefit

## EMA Administration

- Associate Administrator for the Office of Emergency Operations (NA-40)
- EMA Program Administrator
- Performance Evaluation Program Administrator
- Oversight Board
- Appeals Board

## Associate Administrator for Emergency Operations

- Establishes and communicates EMA policy
- Reviews and dispositions requests for exception in accordance with DOE 151.1B
- Appoints the EMA Administrator

## EMA Administrator

- Develops policies, procedures, protocols, and standards necessary to maintain and improve the EMA
- Appoints members of the Oversight and Appeals Boards from the available group of subject matter experts
- Designates the Performance Evaluation Program Administrator(s)
- Assesses and makes the final determination on recommendations from the Oversight and Appeals Boards and forward decisions and accreditation certificates to applicable DOE/NNSA field organizations and their contractors

## Performance Evaluation Program Administrator (PEPA)

- Coordinates the accreditation process for EMA
- Establishes site assessment procedures and schedules site assessments
- Trains site assessors, coordinates site visits, and evaluates their performance
- Makes accreditation recommendations to the Oversight Board based on site assessment results and their response

## Oversight Board

- Reviews recommendations made by PEPA and advises the EMA Administrator regarding approval or denial

## Appeals Board

- Established on an ad hoc basis to review appeals and recommend to the EMA Administrator the affirmation or reversal of decisions concerning accreditation issues and the selection of site assessors

## EMA Proposal

- Establish an EMI SIG Working Group to develop a draft EMA EMG
- Beta test the draft EMA EMG as part of the required annual self-assessment process
- Following the beta test(s), the EMA Working Group will revise the draft EMA EMG to incorporate lessons learned
- Submit the draft EMA EMG to NA-41

## EMA Milestones

- May 2005 – Establish EMA EMG Working Group
- August 2005 – Identify Volunteer sites for EMA Beta test
- September 2005 – Issue draft EMA EMG to volunteer sites
- November 2005 – Complete EMA Beta test
- January 2006 – EMA Working Group incorporates lessons learned from EMA Beta Test in draft EMA EMG
- January 2006 – Draft EMA EMG is presented to NA-41 at EMI SIG Steering Committee Meeting

## 

Questions,
Comments,
and maybe answers...

- Questions,
- Comments,
- and maybe answers...