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The Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP), located near Carlsbad, New Mexico, is the Department of Energy's underground repository for defense-generated Transuranic (TRU) waste. TRU waste consists of such items as clothing, gloves, and tools contaminated with small amounts of radioactive elements. TRU waste that can be safely handled without special equipment when contained is referred to as contact-handled TRU waste. As of December 2000, the Department was responsible for the safe disposal of an estimated 167,000 cubic meters of contact-handled TRU waste at 26 sites in 15 states nationwide. Currently, contact-handed TRU waste is characterized before it is sent to WIPP. In June 2001, however, the Department notified the New Mexico Environmental Department of its intention to establish a centralized characterization capability for this material at the WIPP site. The Department estimated that the proposed capability – consisting of new equipment, modification of an existing building, new processes, and additional personnel – would expedite the removal of contact-handled TRU waste from temporary storage sites and minimize total costs of disposal. The objective of our audit was to determine whether the centralized capability would, in fact, meet these expectations.ms-x

Planned Characterization Capability At The Waste Isolation Pilot Plant

Issued to University of California related to the Unauthorized Storage of Transuranic Waste at the Los Alamos National Laboratory.

Inspection of Environment, Safety, and Health and Emergency Management at the Pantex Plant

Starting in September 1998, Los Alamos National Laboratory (Los Alamos) initiated a project to refurbish the W80. In January 2001, to balance the workload between Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (Livermore) and Los Alamos, NNSA transferred the responsibility of refurbishing and certifying the W80 nuclear weapon components to Livermore. Sandia National Laboratories (Sandia) was given the responsibility to design specific weapon components and perform the non-nuclear certification, and Los Alamos was to perform the peer review function. NNSA plans to complete the refurbishment of its first production unit by 2006.

Kentucky Pioneer Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle Demonstration Project

The DOE, NNSA has assigned a continuing role for LANL in carrying out its national security mission. To enable LANL to continue this enduring responsibility requires that NNSA maintain the capabilities and capacities required in support of its national mission assignments at LANL. In order to accomplish its mission support activities, a reliable, increased electric service supply is necessary. NNSA needs to provide the capability to meet enhanced electric power requirements of LANL facilities in a timely, fiscally prudent manner.

Installation and Operation of Combustion Turbine Generators at Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico

Transmission System Vegetation Management Program

Follow-Up Audit on Internet Privacy