Nuclear Energy: Environmental Issues at DOE's Nuclear Defense Facilities
RCED-86-192
Published: Sep 08, 1986. Publicly Released: Sep 25, 1986.
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Highlights
Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO: (1) identified key environmental issues at nine Department of Energy (DOE) nuclear defense facilities; and (2) evaluated the status of DOE efforts to strengthen its environmental, safety, and health oversight programs.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Energy | The Secretary of Energy should establish a groundwater and soil protection strategy that would reflect DOE policy on the extent to which groundwater and soil can become contaminated and include specific guidelines, to the extent practical, to protect groundwater and soil around DOE facilities. |
Closed – Implemented
DOE Orders 5400.1 and 5400.5 were revised since this recommendation was made. They include requirements and guidelines for the protection of groundwater and soil at all DOE sites limiting both radiological and non-radiological contamination. These orders also include clear policy statements on the priority DOE places on cleaning up existing contamination, and preventing future contamination. This recommendation should be closed.
|
| Department of Energy | The Secretary of Energy should provide to Congress a comprehensive report setting forth DOE plans, milestones, and cost estimates for bringing DOE defense facilities into compliance with all applicable environmental laws. |
Closed – Implemented
In August 1989, DOE issued its "Environmental Restoration and Waste Management Five-Year Plan", which implements this recommendation.
|
| Department of Energy | The Secretary of Energy should provide for independent inspections of DOE operations in regard to the treatment and disposal of any mixed waste that may be exempt from RCRA regulation. |
Closed – Implemented
DOE issued a rule which would allow for state governments to eventually inspect its waste sites.
|
| Department of Energy | The Secretary of Energy should revise DOE Order 5480.2 governing hazardous and mixed waste to reflect how waste operations will be managed in the future. |
Closed – Implemented
DOE Order 5480.2, governing hazardous and mixed waste, has been cancelled and replaced by DOE Order 5400.3, issued on February 22, 1989. The new order confirms the DOE position that all radioactive and hazardous wastes are regulated respectively by the Atomic Energy Act and RCRA as to their radiological and hazardous components.
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Topics
Environmental lawHazardous substancesNuclear facilitiesNuclear facility safetyNuclear waste disposalNuclear weapons plant safetyRadiation safetyRadioactive pollutionSoil pollutionGroundwater