Annual report of the Texas Department of Insurance describing goals, activities, and accomplishments during fiscal year 2016.

Annual report of the Texas Department of Insurance describing goals, activities, and accomplishments during fiscal year 2017.

This report is a description of the Department of Energy organization and projects. The topics of the report include: (1) DOE organization and overview; (2) Headquarters Offices: Congressional, Intergovernmental and Public Affairs; Conservation and Renewable Energy; Contract Appeals; Defense Programs; Economic Regulatory Administration; Energy Information Administration; Energy Research; Environment, Safety and Health; Fossil Energy; General Counsel; Hearings and Appeals; Inspector General; International Affairs and Energy Emergencies; Management and Administration; Minority Economic Impact; New Production Reactors; Nuclear Energy; Policy, Planning and Analysis; Radioactive Waste Management; (3) Operations Offices: Albuquerque Operations Office; Chicago Operations Office; Idaho Operations Office; Nevada Operations Office; Oak Ridge Operations Office; Richland Operations Office; San Francisco Operations Office; Savannah River Operations Office; Laboratories; and (4) Power Administrations: Bonneville Power Administration; Western Area Power Administration.

The facilities, activities, processes, and experiments managed by Martin Marietta Energy Systems, Inc., often involve materials and processes that are hazardous, sensitive, or costly. The risk that may be inherent in these operations is made acceptable by ensuring that they satisfy requirements established by law and regulation, good design, and good operating practices. Configuration management (CM) is an management process intended to ensure that these operations conform to these requirements. The configuration management concept was developed primarily in the aerospace and nuclear power industries in response to events caused when equipment was not kept in the configuration its designers intended. Some of the events resulted in significant environmental disasters. Investigators found that the events were often caused by breakdowns of management controls. These breakdowns allowed improper changes that left equipment unable to perform as required or as documents indicated it would. The configuration management concept was developed to systematically address these breakdowns. Energy Systems and the Department of Energy (DOE) have generally recognized the need for effective configuration management. Health and safety can be better protected; environmental permits, laws, regulations, and orders can be more consistently complied with; and investments in equipment and special programs, such as safety analyses or …

The facilities, activities, processes, and experiments managed by Martin Marietta Energy Systems, Inc., often involve materials and processes that are hazardous, sensitive, or costly. The risk that may be inherent in these operations is made acceptable by ensuring that they satisfy requirements established by law and regulation, good design, and good operating practices. Configuration management (CM) is an management process intended to ensure that these operations conform to these requirements. The configuration management concept was developed primarily in the aerospace and nuclear power industries in response to events caused when equipment was not kept in the configuration its designers intended. Some of the events resulted in significant environmental disasters. Investigators found that the events were often caused by breakdowns of management controls. These breakdowns allowed improper changes that left equipment unable to perform as required or as documents indicated it would. The configuration management concept was developed to systematically address these breakdowns. Energy Systems and the Department of Energy (DOE) have generally recognized the need for effective configuration management. Health and safety can be better protected; environmental permits, laws, regulations, and orders can be more consistently complied with; and investments in equipment and special programs, such as safety analyses or …

Report from the Texas House Committee on Government Transparency and Operation describing the group's goals, activities, accomplishments, and other information, for review by the 86th Texas Legislature.

Report from the Texas Senate Committee on Agriculture, Water & Rural Affairs describing the group's goals, activities, accomplishments, and other information, for review by the 86th Texas Legislature.

Correspondence issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "On August 29, 2005, and in the ensuing days, Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma devastated the Gulf Coast region of the United States. Hurricane Katrina alone affected more than a half million people located within approximately 90,000 square miles spanning Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama, ultimately resulted in over 1,600 deaths, and has spawned one of the largest natural disaster relief and recovery operations in U.S. history. Almost 3 years prior to the hurricanes, the Homeland Security Act of 2002 created the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) largely in response to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The Homeland Security Act merged 22 disparate agencies and organizations into the new department, including the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The Homeland Security Act generally charged DHS with securing the homeland against terrorist attacks and carrying out the functions of all transferred entities, including acting as a focal point regarding natural and man-made crises and emergency planning. Hurricane Katrina severely tested disaster management at the federal, state, and local levels and revealed weaknesses in the basic elements of preparing for, responding to, and recovering from any catastrophic disaster. Beginning in February …

A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "Agencies must engage in a whole-of-government approach to protect the nation and its interests from diverse threats such as terrorism and infectious diseases. However, GAO has reported that gaps in national security staff knowledge and skills pose a barrier to the interagency collaboration needed to address these threats. Training and other professional development activities could help bridge those gaps. GAO was asked to identify: (1) training and other professional development activities intended to improve the ability of key national security agencies' personnel to collaborate across organizational lines and (2) how these activities were intended to improve participants' collaboration abilities. To address these objectives, GAO asked nine key agencies involved in national security issues to submit information on professional development activities that were explicitly intended to build staff knowledge or skills for improving interagency collaboration. In addition, GAO gathered and analyzed other information such as target audience, participation levels, and participating agencies. GAO also interviewed responsible human capital and training officials. GAO will explore how interagency participation and other factors may influence the success of these activities in a subsequent review."

Since the 2020 Vision project began in 1996, students from participating schools have completed and submitted a variety of scenarios describing potential world and regional conditions in the year 2020 and their possible effect on US national security. This report summarizes the students' views and describes trends observed over the course of the 2020 Vision project's five years. It also highlights the main organizational features of the project. An analysis of thematic trends among the scenarios showed interesting shifts in students' thinking, particularly in their views of computer technology, US relations with China, and globalization. In 1996, most students perceived computer technology as highly beneficial to society, but as the year 2000 approached, this technology was viewed with fear and suspicion, even personified as a malicious, uncontrollable being. Yet, after New Year's passed with little disruption, students generally again perceived computer technology as beneficial. Also in 1996, students tended to see US relations with China as potentially positive, with economic interaction proving favorable to both countries. By 2000, this view had transformed into a perception of China emerging as the US' main rival and ''enemy'' in the global geopolitical realm. Regarding globalization, students in the first two years of the …

This report presents the methodology to complete an assessment of postclosure performance, considering all credible scenarios, including the nominal case, for a proposed repository for high-level nuclear waste at the Hanford Site, Washington State. The methodology consists of defensible techniques for identifying and screening scenarios, and for then assessing the risks associated with each. The results of the scenario analysis are used to comprehensively determine system performance and/or risk for evaluation of compliance with postclosure performance criteria (10 CFR 60 and 40 CFR 191). In addition to describing the proposed methodology, this report reviews available methodologies for scenario analysis, discusses pertinent performance assessment and uncertainty concepts, advises how to implement the methodology (including the organizational requirements and a description of tasks) and recommends how to use the methodology in guiding future site characterization, analysis, and engineered subsystem design work. 36 refs., 24 figs., 1 tab.

A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "The Civil Air Patrol (CAP) has performed certain homeland security missions for federal, state, and local customers, but devotes the majority of its flying hours to training and youth programs. Several of CAP's mission areas fit within the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) definition of homeland security, as found in the Quadrennial Homeland Security Review Report (QHSR)--a strategic framework for homeland security. For example, CAP disaster assistance and air defense activities relate to the QHSR mission areas of ensuring resilience to disasters and preventing terrorism and enhancing security, respectively. CAP has performed some of these activities in support of DHS components, including the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and the Coast Guard, as well as state and local governments. For example, CAP has provided disaster imagery to FEMA, performed certain border reconnaissance for CBP, and assisted the Coast Guard in providing air support during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. CAP has also performed homeland security-related activities for other customers, such as the U.S. Air Force. For example, 9 of the 10 CAP wings GAO spoke with had participated in military …

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During the 1985 review of several plants technical specifications the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff found that the protection system designs of some plants did not provide as complete a degree of online (at power) protection system surveillance testing capability as other plants undergoing staff review and evaluation at that time. This raised questions about the online testability of protection systems and the possibility that some nuclear power plant designs may not provide for complete online testing of their protection systems. Therefore, Generic Safety Issue (GSI)-120, Online Testability of Protection Systems'' was initiated. Project scope was limited to the Engineered Safety Features (ESFs) instrumentation and control testing. The major issue of concern relative to the resolution of GSI-120 deals with those ESF systems/components that cannot be tested during power operation, as actuating these systems/components could result in unwanted plant transient or trip conditions. These systems/components are tested during shutdown conditions. This report provides analysis and evaluation findings based on the review of selected issues necessary for the resolution of GSI-120. It also provides recommendations to close out GSI-120 and that no new requirements be placed on licensees of commercial light water nuclear power plants.

During the 1985 review of several plants technical specifications the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff found that the protection system designs of some plants did not provide as complete a degree of online (at power) protection system surveillance testing capability as other plants undergoing staff review and evaluation at that time. This raised questions about the online testability of protection systems and the possibility that some nuclear power plant designs may not provide for complete online testing of their protection systems. Therefore, Generic Safety Issue (GSI)-120, ``Online Testability of Protection Systems`` was initiated. Project scope was limited to the Engineered Safety Features (ESFs) instrumentation and control testing. The major issue of concern relative to the resolution of GSI-120 deals with those ESF systems/components that cannot be tested during power operation, as actuating these systems/components could result in unwanted plant transient or trip conditions. These systems/components are tested during shutdown conditions. This report provides analysis and evaluation findings based on the review of selected issues necessary for the resolution of GSI-120. It also provides recommendations to close out GSI-120 and that no new requirements be placed on licensees of commercial light water nuclear power plants.

Agency strategic plan for the Texas Department of Public Safety describing the organization's planned services, activities, and other goals during fiscal years 2013 through 2017.

In response to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, Congress and the President consolidated numerous federal emergency plans into the National Response Plan (NRP). This report discusses how national response planning documents have evolved over time and describes the authorities that shape the National Response Framework (NRF). Several issue areas that might be examined for potential lawmaking and oversight concerning the NRF are also highlighted.

A report which describes USAID results in economic growth, agricultural development, education, environmental protection, health, population, democracy and governance, and humanitarian assistance.

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A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "Hurricane Katrina destroyed or damaged 134,000 homes and 10,000 rental units in Mississippi alone. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in part responded by providing displaced individuals with temporary housing in the form of mobile homes and travel trailers, placed on both private property and at FEMA-constructed group sites. In 2006, FEMA awarded 10 contracts in Mississippi to maintain and deactivate (MD) the housing units and 5 for group site maintenance (GSM). GAO was asked to investigate whether there were indications of fraud, waste, and abuse related to FEMA's oversight of these 15 contracts. GAO analyzed FEMA's issuance of task orders, tested a representative sample of monthly maintenance inspections payments, prepared case studies detailing the costs related to trailers placed at group sites, and investigated improper activity related to the contracts."

A report intended to inform Congress, the Administration, and the public about how the principal U.S. government agency involved in foreign assistance has responded to the major crises in the developing world, such as reconstruction in Iraq and Afghanistan, averting famine in Ethiopia, and helping hurricane victims in Haiti.

Other written product issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "Presented is GAO's performance and accountability report for fiscal year 2006. In the spirit of the Government Performance and Results Act, this annual report informs the Congress and the American people about what we have achieved on their behalf. Importantly, GAO received a clean opinion from independent auditors on our financial statements for the 20th consecutive year. The financial information and the data measuring GAO's performance contained in this report are complete and reliable."

A letter report issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "While some progress has been made in recent years, agencies urgently need to strengthen basic management capabilities to successfully address current and emerging demands. The incoming administration will face challenges in implementing its policy and program agendas because of shortcomings in agencies' management capabilities. Building and developing the institutional capacity to meet these challenges will require appointing the right people to the right positions. It is vitally important that leadership and management skills, abilities, and experience be among the key criteria the new President uses to select his leadership teams in the agencies. The Senate's interest in leveraging its role in confirmation hearings will send a strong message that nominees should have the requisite skills to deal effectively with the broad array of complex management challenges they will face. This report includes questions for each of 28 major executive branch departments and agencies, and one for each of the following seven major governmentwide management areas: (1) acquisition management, (2) collaboration, (3) financial management, (4) human capital management, (5) information and technology management, (6) results-oriented decision making, and (7) real property management and security."

Testimony issued by the General Accounting Office with an abstract that begins "Federal agencies rely extensively on computer systems and electronic data to support their missions. The security of these systems is essential to avoiding disruptions in critical operations and to prevent data tampering, fraud, and inappropriate disclosure of sensitive information. GAO analyzed information security audits and evaluations at 24 major federal departments and agencies since July 2000. This testimony summarizes (1) the pervasive weaknesses that led GAO to begin reporting information security as a government-wide high-risk issue in 1997, (2) the serious risks that these weaknesses pose at selected agencies and common weaknesses that agencies need to address to improve their information security programs, and (3) the importance of establishing strong agency-wide security management programs and developing a comprehensive government-wide strategy for improvement."