Uranium Enrichment: DOE Needs to Pursue Alternative AVLIS Deployment Options
RCED-91-88
Published: Aug 08, 1991. Publicly Released: Aug 08, 1991.
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Highlights
GAO reviewed the Department of Energy's (DOE) demonstration and deployment of the atomic vapor laser isotope separation (AVLIS) program and the building of an AVLIS plant, focusing on technical, program, and economic issues.
Recommendations
Matter for Congressional Consideration
| Matter | Status | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| As Congress considers proposed legislation that would restructure the DOE uranium enrichment program as a government corporation, it could also consider transferring responsibility for AVLIS to the new corporation. This would require the new corporation to convince private financiers to invest in AVLIS and could reduce the government's financial risk. It would also help ensure that the decision on building an AVLIS plant is based on commercial concerns. |
Closed – Implemented
|
The Energy Policy Act of 1992 transferred the right to develop AVLIS to a newly created government uranium enrichment corporation. |
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Energy | The Secretary of Energy should update the AVLIS demonstration plan to realistically reflect revised program goals and remaining technical development work. The plan should also provide for an independent cost analysis and allow and promote private industry's access and participation in the development program to enhance future deployment options. Finally, the updated plan should identify other deployment options should a government corporation not be established. In particular, DOE should examine options encouraged by the National Competitiveness Technology Transfer Act of 1989. |
Closed – Not Implemented
The Energy Policy Act transferred responsibility for AVLIS to a new government uranium enrichment corporation. The chairman of the new corporation, who will be named in July 1993, will decide if and how the corporation will pursue further AVLIS demonstration activities.
|
| Department of Energy | The Secretary of Energy should include a market analysis in the revised AVLIS demonstration plan. |
Closed – Not Implemented
The Energy Policy Act transferred responsibility for AVLIS to a new government enrichment corporation; however, the corporation can not spend any federal money building an AVLIS plant. The new corporation will need to convince potential private investors to build a new AVLIS plant.
|
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Topics
Atomic energy defense activitiesFederal corporationsFinancial analysisGovernment facility constructionNuclear energyNuclear facilitiesNuclear fuel plantsProgram managementTechnology transferUranium