Office of the Inspector General Semiannual Report to Congress (NUREG-1415, Vol. 19, No. 1)

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• Publication Information
• A Message from the Inspector General

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Publication Information

Manuscript Completed: October 2006
Date Published: October 2006
Reporting Period: April 1, 2006 – September 30, 2006

Office of the Inspector General
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Washington, DC 20555

Availability Notice

A Message from the Inspector General

This Semiannual Report to Congress highlights the activities of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) for the 6-month period ending September 30, 2006.

Our work reflects the legislative mandate of the Inspector General Act to identify fraud, waste, and abuse and to recommend appropriate corrective actions. The audits and investigations highlighted in this report demonstrate our commitment to improving the NRC's programs and operations and protecting their integrity. During this reporting period, we continued to assist NRC management in addressing many challenges associated with refining the efficiency and effectiveness of programs designed to implement the agency's regulatory mission.

Before summarizing our recent activities, I would like to acknowledge the professionalism, competence, and diligent work of the auditors, investigators, and support staff who daily champion our mission to ensure integrity and efficiency within the NRC and its programs. Just recently, my staff was recognized by the President's Council on Integrity and Efficiency for outstanding performance in audit and investigation. The Award for Excellence in Audit was received for exceptional performance in auditing the NRC's ability to control and account for radioactive materials. The Award for Excellence in Investigation was received for exceptional performance in investigating and reporting NRC's handling of preemption matters. I commend these talented men and women for their hard work and dedication to the mission of this office.

During this reporting period, our office completed 15 performance reports on NRC's programs and operations making recommendations to NRC for program improvement, and analyzed 20 contract audit reports. Additionally, OIG initiated 26 investigations and closed 69 cases, which resulted in $87,658 in recoveries. A total of 7 cases were referred to the Department of Justice and 39 were forwarded to NRC management for action during this reporting period.

Finally, I would like to express my appreciation for the collaborative work between my staff and agency managers to address OIG findings and implement the recommendations made by my office. I look forward to continuing this work as we strive to accomplish our common goal of ensuring the effectiveness, efficiency, and integrity of NRC programs and operations.

Hubert T. Bell
Inspector General