Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO examined how the Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Environmental Management (EM) is managing its technology development program.

GAO found that: (1) EM has not coordinated its technology development activities among its program offices; (2) there is no comprehensive listing of EM technology development projects; (3) several DOE offices have funded 60 different melter projects at various locations; (4) there is a significant increase in technology development projects at certain field sites designated as lead sites for particular focus areas; (5) DOE does not use independent reviewers to ensure that project proposals receive equal treatment; (6) DOE has scheduled a comprehensive review of all technology development projects, combined two focus areas into one, and begun closing out melter projects to reduce duplication and overlap; and (7) DOE can not coordinate technology development projects without EM leadership and support.