Federal Managers' Financial Integrity Act
Defense Waste Processing Facility Operations at the Savannah River Site
Management Challenges at the Department of Energy
The Department of Energy (Department) is a multi-faceted agency
that encompasses a broad range of national security, scientific, and
environmental activities. To accomplish its mission, the
Department receives an annual appropriation of approximately $24
billion, employs approximately 120,000 Federal and contractor
personnel and manages assets valued at more than $128 billion,
including a complex of national laboratories.
As required by the Reports Consolidation Act of 2000, the Office
of Inspector General has identified what it considers to be the most
significant management and performance challenges facing the
Department. This effort, which is completed on an annual basis,
reflects new work performed by the Office of Inspector General
and assesses the agency's progress in addressing previously
identified challenges, as well as emerging issues facing the
Department."}l
that encompasses a broad range of national security, scientific, and
environmental activities. To accomplish its mission, the
Department receives an annual appropriation of approximately $24
billion, employs approximately 120,000 Federal and contractor
personnel and manages assets valued at more than $128 billion,
including a complex of national laboratories.
As required by the Reports Consolidation Act of 2000, the Office
of Inspector General has identified what it considers to be the most
significant management and performance challenges facing the
Department. This effort, which is completed on an annual basis,
reflects new work performed by the Office of Inspector General
and assesses the agency's progress in addressing previously
identified challenges, as well as emerging issues facing the
Department."}l
Demolition and Replacement of Hanford's Radiological Calibration Laboratory
The planned replacement of Hanford's Radiological Calibration
for Calibration Laboratory, as currently conceived, will not meet the
Services Department of Energy's programmatic needs. Specifically, the
replacement facility will not have the capability to serve the
mission needs of the EM program at the Hanford site, even though
the EM program has, historically, been the largest user of the
Laboratory.
for Calibration Laboratory, as currently conceived, will not meet the
Services Department of Energy's programmatic needs. Specifically, the
replacement facility will not have the capability to serve the
mission needs of the EM program at the Hanford site, even though
the EM program has, historically, been the largest user of the
Laboratory.
Management Controls over Assessing Natural Resource Damage at Rocky Flats
The Rocky Flats Project Office (Project Office) had not initiated,
Damage Assessment and had no plans, at the time of our review, for conducting a
Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) at the Rocky Flats
Environmental Technology Site (Rocky Flats). It is Departmental
policy to conduct such an assessment to identify residual injuries
and the costs of any additional remedial actions. Furthermore,
Departmental guidance recognizes that the early initiation of an
NRDA can provide savings and efficiencies in performing the
assessment.
Damage Assessment and had no plans, at the time of our review, for conducting a
Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) at the Rocky Flats
Environmental Technology Site (Rocky Flats). It is Departmental
policy to conduct such an assessment to identify residual injuries
and the costs of any additional remedial actions. Furthermore,
Departmental guidance recognizes that the early initiation of an
NRDA can provide savings and efficiencies in performing the
assessment.
Management Controls over the Hanford Site Transuranic Mixed Tank Waste
The Office of River Protection (ORP) pursued the Transuranic
Mixed Tank (TRUM) Waste Project without sufficiently
addressing regulatory and permitting issues. In 2003, ORP
initiated efforts through its contractor, CH2M Hill Hanford Group,
Inc. (CHG) to proceed with the TRUM waste project. According
to its plan, CHG would initiate retrieval of the TRUM waste from
the tanks beginning in October 2004, and make its first shipment of
the treated waste to Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) in June
2005. To accomplish its plan, the Department incentivized CHG
with $8 million in incentives. CHG initiated its design efforts on
the project and in November 2003, issued an $11 million
subcontract to acquire the necessary equipment. However, we
found that the Department had not sufficiently addressed
regulatory and permitting issues prior to incentivizing the
contractor and proceeding with work on the project.nts"}
Mixed Tank (TRUM) Waste Project without sufficiently
addressing regulatory and permitting issues. In 2003, ORP
initiated efforts through its contractor, CH2M Hill Hanford Group,
Inc. (CHG) to proceed with the TRUM waste project. According
to its plan, CHG would initiate retrieval of the TRUM waste from
the tanks beginning in October 2004, and make its first shipment of
the treated waste to Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) in June
2005. To accomplish its plan, the Department incentivized CHG
with $8 million in incentives. CHG initiated its design efforts on
the project and in November 2003, issued an $11 million
subcontract to acquire the necessary equipment. However, we
found that the Department had not sufficiently addressed
regulatory and permitting issues prior to incentivizing the
contractor and proceeding with work on the project.nts"}