The Office of Inspector General (OIG) conducted an inspection
of select grants funded by the Department of Energy (DOE)
Savannah River Operations Office (SRO). Specifically, the
purpose of this inspection was to review the oversight and
management of grant monies awarded by SRO for emergency
response and law enforcement-related activities.
SRO has five such grants. The State of Georgia received two
grants, and the State of South Carolina received three grants.
Financial obligations for the five grants for Fiscal Years (FYs)
2001 and 2002 were approximately $2,682,534 and $3,004,728,
respectively. The Georgia agencies responsible for managing the
grants are the Emergency Management Agency and the
Department of Natural Resources. The South Carolina agencies
responsible for managing the grants are the Department of Health
and Environmental Control and the Emergency Management
Division.
of select grants funded by the Department of Energy (DOE)
Savannah River Operations Office (SRO). Specifically, the
purpose of this inspection was to review the oversight and
management of grant monies awarded by SRO for emergency
response and law enforcement-related activities.
SRO has five such grants. The State of Georgia received two
grants, and the State of South Carolina received three grants.
Financial obligations for the five grants for Fiscal Years (FYs)
2001 and 2002 were approximately $2,682,534 and $3,004,728,
respectively. The Georgia agencies responsible for managing the
grants are the Emergency Management Agency and the
Department of Natural Resources. The South Carolina agencies
responsible for managing the grants are the Department of Health
and Environmental Control and the Emergency Management
Division.
Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory's Strategic Initiative Fund
We found that Bechtel BWXT Idaho, LLC (Bechtel) used the Strategic
Initiative Fund to supplement the Laboratory Directed Research and
Development (LDRD) Program; pay for activities that should have been
direct funded; and, pay for questionable activities such as advertising,
marketing, and direct selling, that did not directly benefit the site's
predominant activity, environmental cleanup efforts. Also, the
associated costs were not appropriately allocated to benefiting
programs.
Initiative Fund to supplement the Laboratory Directed Research and
Development (LDRD) Program; pay for activities that should have been
direct funded; and, pay for questionable activities such as advertising,
marketing, and direct selling, that did not directly benefit the site's
predominant activity, environmental cleanup efforts. Also, the
associated costs were not appropriately allocated to benefiting
programs.
Oversight Funds Provided to Local Governments in the State of Nevada
governments are entitled to exercise oversight of the Department of Energy's Yucca
Mountain Project. Oversight funds provided by the Department may be used to review
Yucca Mountain activities with the potential to affect local economies, public health and
safety, and the environment. In Fiscal Years 2001 and 2002, ten local governments received
a total of $12 million for oversight expenditures. The funds could also be used to request
impact assistance; provide information to Nevada residents and the Secretary regarding
activities of the Yucca Mountain Project; and, engage in any monitoring, testing, or
evaluation of activities with respect to site characterization programs. Congress specifically
prohibited the use of the funds to influence legislative matters, pay litigation expenses, or
support multi-State efforts and other coalition building activities.
A House of Representatives Committee Report accompanying the EíFÌ
Mountain Project. Oversight funds provided by the Department may be used to review
Yucca Mountain activities with the potential to affect local economies, public health and
safety, and the environment. In Fiscal Years 2001 and 2002, ten local governments received
a total of $12 million for oversight expenditures. The funds could also be used to request
impact assistance; provide information to Nevada residents and the Secretary regarding
activities of the Yucca Mountain Project; and, engage in any monitoring, testing, or
evaluation of activities with respect to site characterization programs. Congress specifically
prohibited the use of the funds to influence legislative matters, pay litigation expenses, or
support multi-State efforts and other coalition building activities.
A House of Representatives Committee Report accompanying the EíFÌ
Dual Axis Radiographic Hydrodynamic Test Facility
The Dual Axis Radiographic Hydrodynamic Test (DARHT) facility is
an experimental facility of the Stockpile Stewardship Program. The
facility will provide high-speed, high-resolution flash radiographs to
diagnose the results of hydrodynamic tests and dynamic experiments.
Construction of DARHT began in 1988. Since that time, the project
has undergone several baseline changes impacting different technical
aspects of the project. Original plans called for the development of two
single-pulse axes with similar capabilities at a cost of $30 million. In
1998, the scope was changed to expand the capability of the second axis
while at the same time increasing the cost to $270 million. The
following photograph shows DARHT's main facility, the Hydrotest
Firing Site, under construction.
an experimental facility of the Stockpile Stewardship Program. The
facility will provide high-speed, high-resolution flash radiographs to
diagnose the results of hydrodynamic tests and dynamic experiments.
Construction of DARHT began in 1988. Since that time, the project
has undergone several baseline changes impacting different technical
aspects of the project. Original plans called for the development of two
single-pulse axes with similar capabilities at a cost of $30 million. In
1998, the scope was changed to expand the capability of the second axis
while at the same time increasing the cost to $270 million. The
following photograph shows DARHT's main facility, the Hydrotest
Firing Site, under construction.
Infrastructure Improvements at the Hanford Site
The Department of Energy's Hanford Site was established in 1943 to support the production of
plutonium for the Manhattan Project. Occupying about 560 square miles along the Columbia River
in southeastern Washington, the site is now engaged in the world's largest cleanup effort involving
radioactive and hazardous wastes generated during the plutonium production era. Today, many of
the site's facilities and much of its infrastructure have deteriorated and are operating beyond design
life. Further, a number of general-purpose buildings will soon reach the end of their useful lives
unless significant renovations are completed.
plutonium for the Manhattan Project. Occupying about 560 square miles along the Columbia River
in southeastern Washington, the site is now engaged in the world's largest cleanup effort involving
radioactive and hazardous wastes generated during the plutonium production era. Today, many of
the site's facilities and much of its infrastructure have deteriorated and are operating beyond design
life. Further, a number of general-purpose buildings will soon reach the end of their useful lives
unless significant renovations are completed.
The mission of the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) is to strengthen the
security of the United States by applying nuclear science and technology to military
purposes, and by reducing the global threat from weapons of mass destruction. To carry
out its mission, NNSA must ensure the vitality and readiness of the nuclear weapons
complex. However, as highlighted in numerous studies by NNSA, the Office of
Inspector General, and other outside organizations, the key infrastructure in the nuclear
weapons program has deteriorated significantly following the end of the Cold War.
To address this problem, NNSA established the Facility and Infrastructure
Recapitalization Program (FIRP). The mission of the FIRP is to restore, rebuild, and
revitalize the physical infrastructure of the nuclear weapons complex by applying new,
increased, direct appropriations to address an integrated prioritized list of infrastructure
and repair projects.
security of the United States by applying nuclear science and technology to military
purposes, and by reducing the global threat from weapons of mass destruction. To carry
out its mission, NNSA must ensure the vitality and readiness of the nuclear weapons
complex. However, as highlighted in numerous studies by NNSA, the Office of
Inspector General, and other outside organizations, the key infrastructure in the nuclear
weapons program has deteriorated significantly following the end of the Cold War.
To address this problem, NNSA established the Facility and Infrastructure
Recapitalization Program (FIRP). The mission of the FIRP is to restore, rebuild, and
revitalize the physical infrastructure of the nuclear weapons complex by applying new,
increased, direct appropriations to address an integrated prioritized list of infrastructure
and repair projects.