The Management of Tank Waste Remediation at the Hanford site
The production of nuclear weapons materials by the Department of Energy and its predecessor agencies generated a significant amount of highly radioactive and hazardous waste. Much of this waste, approximately 54 million gallons, is stored in 177 underground tanks at the Hanford Site in southeastern Washington State.
Hanford has the largest number of underground storage tanks in the Department of Energy complex and
many of these tanks have already leaked or are suspected to have leaked radioactive waste into the ground.
Tank waste radionuclides have reached the groundwater that flows into the Columbia River.
Hanford has the largest number of underground storage tanks in the Department of Energy complex and
many of these tanks have already leaked or are suspected to have leaked radioactive waste into the ground.
Tank waste radionuclides have reached the groundwater that flows into the Columbia River.
Outsourcing Opportunities at the Los Alamos National Laboratory
In 1994, the Department of Energy (Department) developed an approach
that required its management and operating contractors to identify and
evaluate all of their services to determine whether they could be obtained at a lower cost from an outside entity. The Department also recognized,
however, that the unique nature of the work performed at national
laboratories, such as Los Alamos National Laboratory (Los Alamos), would
preclude some services from outsourcing consideration.
that required its management and operating contractors to identify and
evaluate all of their services to determine whether they could be obtained at a lower cost from an outside entity. The Department also recognized,
however, that the unique nature of the work performed at national
laboratories, such as Los Alamos National Laboratory (Los Alamos), would
preclude some services from outsourcing consideration.
Inspection of the Sale of a Paragon Supercomputer by Sandia National Laboratories
On July 27, 1999, we initiated an inspection into the facts and circumstances surrounding
the sale and repurchase of an INTEL Paragon XPS supercomputer (Paragon) by Sandia
National Laboratories (Sandia), Albuquerque, New Mexico. This inspection was
initiated at your request based on concerns that the sale of the Paragon supercomputer to
a Chinese national could be detrimental to the national security of the United States.
the sale and repurchase of an INTEL Paragon XPS supercomputer (Paragon) by Sandia
National Laboratories (Sandia), Albuquerque, New Mexico. This inspection was
initiated at your request based on concerns that the sale of the Paragon supercomputer to
a Chinese national could be detrimental to the national security of the United States.
Inspection of Alleged Improprieties Regarding Issuance of a Contract
The Office of Inspector General (OIG) received an allegation that the Department of
Energy (DOE) improperly awarded a noncompetitive, multimillion-dollar contract to
General Atomics through another contractor, AlliedSignal. The Office of Inspections,
OIG, initiated an inspection to review the procurement action
Energy (DOE) improperly awarded a noncompetitive, multimillion-dollar contract to
General Atomics through another contractor, AlliedSignal. The Office of Inspections,
OIG, initiated an inspection to review the procurement action
Waste Incineration at the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory
The Waste Experimental Reduction Facility (WERF) Incinerator is located at the Idaho National Engineering
and Environmental Laboratory (INEEL) in Idaho Falls, Idaho. The primary mission of the incinerator is to
provide mixed waste treatment until a demonstrated, more cost-effective commercial facility is available.
The objective of this audit was to determine whether the Department operated the WERF Incinerator at the
capacity permitted by the State of Idaho.
and Environmental Laboratory (INEEL) in Idaho Falls, Idaho. The primary mission of the incinerator is to
provide mixed waste treatment until a demonstrated, more cost-effective commercial facility is available.
The objective of this audit was to determine whether the Department operated the WERF Incinerator at the
capacity permitted by the State of Idaho.