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Open Recommendations (128 total)

High-Risk Radioactive Material: Opportunities Exist to Improve the Security of Sources No Longer in Use

GAO-24-105998
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1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of Energy The Secretary of Energy, in coordination with the NRC and in consultation with other relevant stakeholders, should conduct an analysis to evaluate options and take action to facilitate long-term storage, within agency authorities, to better secure foreign-origin americium-241 until a permanent disposal or viable recycling option is available. (Recommendation 1)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

Federal Real Property: Agencies Should Provide More Information About Increases in Deferred Maintenance and Repair

GAO-24-105485
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1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of Energy The Secretary of Energy should ensure that the department works with its component agencies to develop plans to address their DM&R backlogs and identify the funding and time frames needed to reduce them in congressional budget requests, related reports to decision makers, or both. (Recommendation 2)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

Federal Real Property: Agencies Should Provide More Information About Increases in Deferred Maintenance and Repair

GAO-24-105485
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2 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of Energy The Secretary of Energy should ensure that the department works with its component agencies to evaluate the costs and benefits of increasing the use of models for predicting the outcome of investments, analyzing tradeoffs, and optimizing among competing investments, and employ models when the benefits outweigh the costs. (Recommendation 3)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Department of Energy The Secretary of Energy should ensure that the department's budget materials or other documents provide more information to Congress and the public regarding the agency's deferred maintenance and repair backlog, including at a minimum, the proportion of DM&R estimates needed to support the mission. (Recommendation 1)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

DOE Nuclear Cleanup: Clear Guidance on Categorizing Activities and an Assessment of Contract Cost Effectiveness Needed

GAO-23-106081
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1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of Energy The Secretary of Energy should direct the Assistant Secretary for Environmental Management to conduct an assessment of whether current contract types, terms, and performance evaluations are improving the cost effectiveness of base operations at major cleanup sites, and to implement any improvements that the assessment identifies. (Recommendation 2)
Open
In a letter responding to our report, the Office of Environmental Management stated that it will conduct a limited assessment of contract types, terms, and performance evaluations at major cleanup sites to identify potential improvements to the cost-effectiveness of base operations. EM estimates these actions will be completed by September 30, 2024.

DOE Nuclear Cleanup: Clear Guidance on Categorizing Activities and an Assessment of Contract Cost Effectiveness Needed

GAO-23-106081
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1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of Energy The Secretary of Energy should direct the Assistant Secretary for Environmental Management to develop budget guidance that includes clear definitions for the categories of activities and avoids using the term "minimum safe" when referring to activities that are not progressing the cleanup mission to limit confusion regarding category definitions. (Recommendation 1)
Open
In a letter responding to our report, the Office of Environmental Management (EM) agreed with our recommendation and said that it will clarify definitions for categories of activities in the fiscal year 2026 EM budget guidance. The letter also stated that it will avoid using the term minimum safe when referring to activities that are not progressing the EM cleanup mission. EM estimates these actions will be completed by April 30, 2024.

Electricity Grid: DOE Could Better Support Industry Efforts to Ensure Adequate Transformer Reserves

GAO-23-106180
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1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of Energy The Secretary of Energy should establish a plan, including time frames as appropriate, to guide the agency's efforts to develop solutions and support for addressing transformer supply chain challenges. (Recommendation 1)
Open
As of November 2023, we are following up with the agency and will update the response to this recommendation in the future.

Electricity Grid: DOE Could Better Support Industry Efforts to Ensure Adequate Transformer Reserves

GAO-23-106180
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1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of Energy The Secretary of Energy should establish a plan, including time frames as appropriate, to guide the agency's support for utilities and facilitate greater participation in industry sharing efforts. (Recommendation 2)
Open
As of November 2023, we are following up with the agency and will update the response to this recommendation in the future.

Hanford Cleanup: DOE Should Consider Including Expedited Nuclear Waste Treatment Alternatives in Upcoming Analysis

GAO-23-106151
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1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of Energy The Secretary of Energy should direct the Assistant Secretary for Environmental Management to consider, in consultation with the Washington State Department of Ecology, supplementing the scenarios to be evaluated in the Hanford System Plan Revision 10, to include those under serious consideration in other agency studies that may allow the Office of Environmental Management to expedite tank waste retrieval and treatment at Hanford. (Recommendation 1)
Open
As of November 2023, we are following up with the agency and will update the response to this recommendation in the future.
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