Accreditation

1

• Accreditation
• The Next Step
• John Bolling, CEM
• BWXT Y-12

2
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.

3
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)

4
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

5
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 organizations vulnerability and
  focuses attention on areas that need improvement
• Provides recognition of excellence and promotes
  alliance with other accredited organizations/sites

6
Results of RecentOA-30 Inspections
Effective Performance EP Needs Improvement
NI Significant Weakness SW Not Assessed NA
7
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

8
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

9
EMA Administration

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

10
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

11
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

12
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

13
Oversight Board

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

14
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

15
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

16
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

17

• Questions,
• Comments,
• and maybe answers