Continuity of Operations (COOP)

In any national security emergency, Continuity of Operations (COOP) is part of the fundamental mission of the Department of Energy (DOE) as a responsible and reliable public institution. The changing threat environment and recent emergencies, including localized acts of nature, accidents, technological emergencies, and military or terrorist-attack related incidents, have highlighted the need for capabilities that enable Federal agencies to continue their essential functions across a broad spectrum of emergencies. Moreover, the potential for terrorist use of weapons of mass destruction has emphasized the need for a capability that ensures Continuity of Government across the Federal Executive Branch.

In response to these needs, the Deputy Secretary directed all Headquarters offices to prepare COOP plans addressing those DOE critical essential functions for which they are responsible. Accordingly, the Office of Nuclear Energy (NE) in June 2006 issued its Continuity of Operations Plan (NE-COOP Plan). Responsibility for generation, coordination, and execution of the NE COOP Plan resides with the Office of Integrated Safety and Program Assurance (NE-43), working in concert with all NE offices involved in addressing the critical essential functions assigned to NE.

The NE-COOP Plan delineates the NE succession of office and emergency delegation of authority; provides for the safekeeping of vital records and databases; identifies alternate operating facilities; and provides for interoperable communications. In addressing NE's critical essential functions, the plan incorporates NE procedures to secure sensitive DOE material movements involving transportation of isotopic shipments from facilities under NE purview and upgrades the security of NE nuclear reactor facilities to the extent required in a given emergency. Furthermore, the NE-COOP Plan includes a procedure for tracking the location and condition of all NE employees in the event of a terrorist attack or natural disaster in the National Capital Region and also includes Short-Term Continuity of Operations Plans and Procedures, which provides for the assembly and operation of the smallest staff necessary to support the Secretary and DOE critical essential functions for limited duration operations at the peak of a national emergency.

Formal activation of the COOP Plan can occur in one of three ways:

1. The President may initiate Federal Government COOP if a threat directly impacts the National Capital Region or agencies of the Federal Government;
2. The Secretary of Energy may initiate DOE's COOP Plan based on a threat directed to, or at, the Department itself; and/or
3. A catastrophic event, such as terrorism or a natural disaster, may trigger the activation of the COOP, based on the nature and severity of the event.

The NE-COOP Plan, in tandem with the draft DOE COOP Plan, dated April 2006, provides an integral component of a robust framework that ensures continuity of operations during a national emergency, in compliance with Executive Order 12656, Assignment of Emergency Preparedness Responsibilities; Presidential Decision Directive 67, Enduring Continuity of Government and Continuity of Government Operations; several Federal Preparedness Circulars issued by the Department of Homeland Security; and directives issued by the Deputy Secretary.