Nuclear mattersNuclear DUI: DOE IG finds cause for concern

Published 23 November 2010

There are about 600 OST (Office of Secure Transportation) agents — that is, drivers who have permits to haul nuclear weapons, weapons components, and special nuclear material (SNM) around the country; the Department of Energy inspector general investigated reports that some of these drivers are drunk on the job; a new report found 16 incident, of which 2 were of “particular concern”

The Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Energy last week issued the results of its investigation into allegations concerning alcohol abuse by drivers who are contracted by the Office of Secure Transportation (OST) to haul nuclear weapons, weapons components, and special nuclear material (SNM) around the country.

The IG found sixteen reported cases of alcohol-related incidents involving OST Agents, Agent Candidates, and other personnel from 2007 through 2009.

The IG says these sixteen cases occurred in a population of about 597 OST agents. Of these incidents, the IG says that two are of particular concern.

From the report: “Of the 16 incidents, 2 were of the greatest concern because they occurred during secure transportation missions while the Agents were in Rest Overnight Status, which occurs during extended missions where convoy vehicles are placed in a safe harbor and Agents check into local area hotels. In 2007, an Agent was arrested for public intoxication, and, in 2009, two Agents were handcuffed and temporarily detained by police officers after an incident at a local bar. OST management took what appeared to be appropriate action in these cases.”

While the IG report describes the number of alcohol incidents as “infrequent,” it points out that they “indicate a potential vulnerability in OST’s critical national security mission.”

The full report can be found on the DOE IG Web site here (PDF).