Skip to main content

Department of Energy: National Priorities Needed for Meeting Environmental Agreements

RCED-95-1 Published: Mar 03, 1995. Publicly Released: Mar 03, 1995.
Jump To:
Skip to Highlights

Highlights

GAO reviewed the Department of Energy's (DOE) progress in cleaning up its nuclear weapons complex, focusing on: (1) its use of environmental agreements with state and federal regulators; and (2) the effectiveness of its cleanup strategy.

Recommendations

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of Energy The Secretary of Energy should set national priorities for cleaning up its contaminated sites using data gathered during DOE ongoing risk evaluation as a starting point.
Closed – Not Implemented
DOE continues to report that it is making significant progress toward making the future overall cleanup effort cost-effective. DOE has lowered the estimated cost to complete its environmental management mission to $227 billion over the next 75 years, down from $237 billion projected in 1995. DOE cites increased productivity, reduced program scope, better technology, privatization, and modification in compliance agreements as reasons for the change. Given this progress, DOE has no intention of creating a national, risk-based priorities process.
Department of Energy The Secretary of Energy should initiate discussions with regulators to renegotiate milestones that no longer reflect national priorities.
Closed – Implemented
DOE continues to refine its cleanup responsibilities for the future, making some progress in renegotiating cleanup agreements with regulators at some sites that better reflect budget realities, technical capabilities, and a more complete understanding of future cleanup needs. However, it has no plan for restructuring their cleanup agreements.

Full Report

Office of Public Affairs

Topics

Environmental monitoringEnvironmental policiesFederal facilitiesHazardous substancesNuclear waste disposalNuclear waste managementNuclear weapons plant safetyNuclear weapons plantsRadioactive wastesSafety regulation