Audit Report: IG-0673

Transuranic Waste Management at Los Alamos National Laboratory

Office of Inspector General

February 10, 2005

February 10, 2005

Transuranic Waste Management at Los Alamos National Laboratory

Los Alamos National Laboratory (Los Alamos) has been involved in the development, production, and maintenance of the Nation's nuclear weapons stockpile for over six decades. Research, development, and fabrication of weapons components produced a massive quantity of waste material, including over 40,000 drums of transuranic waste. This waste is composed primarily of protective clothing, tools, equipment, and sludges contaminated with manmade radioactive elements such as plutonium. Materials contaminated with transuranic elements pose health and safety risks that require storage and disposal in highly regulated facilities, such as the Waste Isolation Pilot Project (WIPP).

  • Audit Report: IG-0673 (687.91 KB)
    Los Alamos National Laboratory (Los Alamos) has been involved
    in the development, production, and maintenance of the Nation's
    nuclear weapons stockpile for over six decades. Research,
    development, and fabrication of weapons components produced a
    massive quantity of waste material, including over 40,000 drums
    of transuranic waste. This waste is composed primarily of
    protective clothing, tools, equipment, and sludges contaminated
    with manmade radioactive elements such as plutonium. Materials
    contaminated with transuranic elements pose health and safety
    risks that require storage and disposal in highly regulated facilities,
    such as the Waste Isolation Pilot Project (WIPP).