Planned Characterization Capability At The Waste Isolation Pilot Plant
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
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
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.
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.
Follow-Up Audit on Internet Privacy
Follow-Up Audit on the Department's Managment of Field Contractor Employees Assigned to Headquarters and Other Federal Agencies
Audit of Subcontracting Practices at the Savannah River Site
Recruitment and Retention at the Los Alamos and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories
Inspection of Nuclear Safety At The Ashtabula Environmental Management Project
The Office of Inspector General, U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), conducted an inspection to
review issues related to nuclear safety at the Department’s Ashtabula Environmental
Management Project (Ashtabula) in Ashtabula, Ohio. The Ashtabula Site is owned by the RMI
Titanium Company (RMI) and is comprised of two facilities, the Extrusion Plant and the Metals
Plant. Radioactive processing activities at the Extrusion Plant are regulated under a nuclear
license issued by the Ohio Department of Health. The license only covers the Extrusion Plant
and not the Metals Plant.
review issues related to nuclear safety at the Department’s Ashtabula Environmental
Management Project (Ashtabula) in Ashtabula, Ohio. The Ashtabula Site is owned by the RMI
Titanium Company (RMI) and is comprised of two facilities, the Extrusion Plant and the Metals
Plant. Radioactive processing activities at the Extrusion Plant are regulated under a nuclear
license issued by the Ohio Department of Health. The license only covers the Extrusion Plant
and not the Metals Plant.
Resolution of Significant Finding Investigation Recommendations