In February 2000, the Department of Energy entered into a contract with Kaiser-Hill Company, LLC to close the Rocky Flats Environmental Technology Site by December 15,2006. Under the terms of the contract, Kaiser-Hill is responsible for treating and packaging low-level mixed waste (LLMW) greater than 10 nanocuries per gram, and the Department is responsible for providing a disposal site for the waste. Kaiser-Hill has
about 1,300 cubic meters of this type of waste in its inventory and estimates that it could generate an additional 1,500 cubic meters prior to site closure. The waste consists mainly of sludge, metals, combustibles (e.g., rags, clothmg, and wood), lead solids, and lead gloves. Kaiser-Hill anticipates a need for a disposal site by August 2003.
about 1,300 cubic meters of this type of waste in its inventory and estimates that it could generate an additional 1,500 cubic meters prior to site closure. The waste consists mainly of sludge, metals, combustibles (e.g., rags, clothmg, and wood), lead solids, and lead gloves. Kaiser-Hill anticipates a need for a disposal site by August 2003.
Waste Reduction Plans for the Advanced Mixed Waste Treatment Project at the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory
Since the early 1970s, the Department of Energy has stored about 65,000 cubic meters of
transuranic (TRU) waste and mixed low-level waste at the Idaho National Engineering
and Environmental Laboratory (INEEL), near Idaho Falls, Idaho. Most of the waste was
generated at the Rocky Flats Plant near Denver, Colorado, and was shipped to the INEEL
in drums and boxes. The preponderance of waste is stored on asphalt pads and covered
with soil to form earthen-covered berms.
transuranic (TRU) waste and mixed low-level waste at the Idaho National Engineering
and Environmental Laboratory (INEEL), near Idaho Falls, Idaho. Most of the waste was
generated at the Rocky Flats Plant near Denver, Colorado, and was shipped to the INEEL
in drums and boxes. The preponderance of waste is stored on asphalt pads and covered
with soil to form earthen-covered berms.
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Communications
The Office of Inspector General (OIG) conducted an inquiry concerning a telephone
conference call allegedly held by Chairman Wood and Commissioner Brownell of the
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) with a number of Wall Street
representatives. Senators Joseph Lieberman and Maria Cantwell asked the OIG to review
this matter, citing media reports suggesting that Chairman Wood and Commissioner
Brownell had discussed pending contract cases during the call. At issue in these cases is
whether certain parties should be granted relief from multi-billion dollar power supply
contracts executed during the Western energy crisis of 2000-2001.1
conference call allegedly held by Chairman Wood and Commissioner Brownell of the
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) with a number of Wall Street
representatives. Senators Joseph Lieberman and Maria Cantwell asked the OIG to review
this matter, citing media reports suggesting that Chairman Wood and Commissioner
Brownell had discussed pending contract cases during the call. At issue in these cases is
whether certain parties should be granted relief from multi-billion dollar power supply
contracts executed during the Western energy crisis of 2000-2001.1
Utility System Leases at the East Tennessee Technology Park
In the early 1990s, the Department of Energy (Department) began to
transition some of its sites and facilities from missions in support of
nuclear weapons production to environmental cleanup. At about the
same time, legislation was enacted establishing regional community
reuse organizations throughout the country. These organizations were
established to assist local communities with the transition from
economic dependence on the Federal government to reliance on private
industry. The Community Reuse Organization of East Tennessee
(CROET) was established for this purpose.null"?n
transition some of its sites and facilities from missions in support of
nuclear weapons production to environmental cleanup. At about the
same time, legislation was enacted establishing regional community
reuse organizations throughout the country. These organizations were
established to assist local communities with the transition from
economic dependence on the Federal government to reliance on private
industry. The Community Reuse Organization of East Tennessee
(CROET) was established for this purpose.null"?n
The Department of Energy’s Spent Nuclear Fuel Canisters and Transportation Casks
The Department of Energy manages about 2,500 metric tons of spent nuclear fuel
generated from research and development, plutonium production, and the Naval Nuclear
Propulsion Program (Naval Reactors). Under current national policy, the Department is
to permanently dispose of its spent fuel in an underground repository, but an appropriate
repository is not expected to be available until at least 201 0. Until then, the Department
plans to consolidate its spent fuel at interim storage sites deemed to have the most
appropriate skills, facilities, and technologies: the Hanford Site in Washington; the Idaho
National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory; and, the Savannah River Site in
South Carolina.}e
generated from research and development, plutonium production, and the Naval Nuclear
Propulsion Program (Naval Reactors). Under current national policy, the Department is
to permanently dispose of its spent fuel in an underground repository, but an appropriate
repository is not expected to be available until at least 201 0. Until then, the Department
plans to consolidate its spent fuel at interim storage sites deemed to have the most
appropriate skills, facilities, and technologies: the Hanford Site in Washington; the Idaho
National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory; and, the Savannah River Site in
South Carolina.}e
Plutonium-238 Production