Skip to main content

Nuclear Waste: Hanford's Well-Drilling Costs Can Be Reduced

RCED-93-71 Published: Mar 04, 1993. Publicly Released: Apr 05, 1993.
Jump To:
Skip to Highlights

Highlights

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Department of Energy's (DOE) well-drilling program at its Hanford site, focusing on: (1) DOE and contractors' actions to reduce well-drilling costs; and (2) opportunities for additional cost savings.

Recommendations

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of Energy The Secretary of Energy should direct the Manager, Richland Field Office, to expedite the evaluation of alternative well-drilling technologies and, in the interim, require its contractors to select the most cost-effective technology, consistent with safety standards, for use at each well being drilled at Hanford.
Closed – Implemented
DOE has evaluated various alternative well-drilling technologies and approved several for use as appropriate. DOE has just awarded a contract which provides for use of various drilling technologies including air rotary and sonic.
Department of Energy The Secretary of Energy should direct the Manager, Richland Field Office, to direct its contractors to negotiate with representatives of the Hanford work force to allow more effective use of well-drilling staff.
Closed – Implemented
The award of the Environmental Restoration Management Contract to Bechtel Hanford Company gives the company maximum flexibility to procure drilling and other services on a competitive basis. The contract also gives Bechtel maximum flexibility to adjust worker skill mixes providing a greater incentive for bargaining units to be more cost-effective.
Department of Energy The Secretary of Energy should direct the Manager, Richland Field Office, to simplify the organizational structure, put a single DOE official in charge of well-drilling decisions, and assign project status to well drilling. In addition, the DOE project manager should have the necessary authority to centralize contractor management to ensure efficient operation of the project.
Closed – Not Implemented
With the new DOE directed effort to manage parts of the cleanup as Major Systems Acquisitions, well-drilling is now viewed as a support function providing services to individual projects. In addition, Bechtel's new Environmental Restoration Management Contract provides the flexibility to procure the most cost-effective drilling available. Bechtel, therefore, may not choose to use a centralized Hanford service organization.

Full Report

Office of Public Affairs

Topics

Contract oversightContract performanceCost controlEmployee trainingGroundwater contaminationEnvironmental monitoringHazardous substancesNuclear waste disposalNuclear weapons plantsProgram managementWaste management