The United States Department of Energy national criticality safety program and activities

The United States Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Nuclear Safety (ONS) is responsible for formulating Departmental nuclear safety policy and for over viewing the implementation of the policy by the DOE Program Offices. Since nuclear criticality safety is an issue of paramount importance to the DOE, the ONS continues to pursue a coherent criticality safety program by coordinating current activities and future initiatives which will build upon past accomplishments. This paper provides a brief historical background of the evolution and structure of the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Nuclear Safety since 1981, a review of recent outlay programs and a preview of the planned DOE ONS activities. (author)