Nuclear Safety Research Responsiveness to Regulatory Needs and Coordination
RCED-84-15: Published: Nov 15, 1983. Publicly Released: Nov 18, 1983.
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Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO evaluated the relationship of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's (NRC) nuclear safety research program to its regulatory process and how NRC and the Department of Energy (DOE) delineate and coordinate their respective research responsibilities to preclude unnecessary duplication.
NRC and DOE have overlapping research and development responsibilities for light-water reactor safety research, advanced reactors, and nuclear waste management and, although their respective research has different purposes, it involves the same technologies. GAO found that coordination between the agencies has occurred. In its program plan for light-water reactor safety research and development, DOE included NRC staff members in the 10 working groups it established to define research needs, and DOE and NRC have implemented an interagency agreement with specific coordinating techniques to be used in nuclear waste management. These techniques have helped keep DOE, NRC, and their contractors aware of the two agencies' research efforts. Nevertheless, some intentional duplication of research efforts has occurred. GAO believes that NRC needs to conduct some research which duplicates the DOE efforts to ensure that its independence is not compromised.
Dec 10, 2020
Uranium Management:
Actions to Mitigate Risks to Domestic Supply Chain Could Be Better Planned and CoordinatedGAO-21-28: Published: Dec 10, 2020. Publicly Released: Dec 10, 2020.
Dec 8, 2020
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Offshore Wind Energy:
Planned Projects May Lead to Construction of New Vessels in the U.S., but Industry Has Made Few Decisions amid UncertaintiesGAO-21-153: Published: Dec 8, 2020. Publicly Released: Dec 8, 2020.
Nov 19, 2020
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Nuclear Waste Disposal:
Better Planning Needed to Avoid Potential Disruptions at Waste Isolation Pilot PlantGAO-21-48: Published: Nov 19, 2020. Publicly Released: Nov 19, 2020.
Oct 29, 2020
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Nuclear Safety:
DOE and the Safety Board Should Collaborate to Develop a Written Agreement to Enhance OversightGAO-21-141: Published: Oct 29, 2020. Publicly Released: Oct 29, 2020.
Oct 15, 2020
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Nuclear Weapons:
NNSA Plans to Modernize Critical Depleted Uranium Capabilities and Improve Program ManagementGAO-21-16: Published: Oct 15, 2020. Publicly Released: Oct 15, 2020.
Jul 24, 2020
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Nuclear Weapons:
Action Needed to Address the W80-4 Warhead Program's Schedule ConstraintsGAO-20-409: Published: Jul 24, 2020. Publicly Released: Jul 24, 2020.
Jun 24, 2020
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National Nuclear Security Administration:
Analyzing Cost Savings Program Could Result in Wider Use and Additional Contractor EfficienciesGAO-20-451: Published: Jun 24, 2020. Publicly Released: Jun 24, 2020.
Jun 9, 2020
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Nuclear Weapons:
NNSA Needs to Incorporate Additional Management Controls Over Its Microelectronics ActivitiesGAO-20-357: Published: Jun 9, 2020. Publicly Released: Jun 9, 2020.
May 13, 2020
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Environmental Liabilities:
DOE Needs to Better Plan for Post-Cleanup Challenges Facing SitesGAO-20-373: Published: May 13, 2020. Publicly Released: May 13, 2020.
May 12, 2020
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Hanford Waste Treatment Plant:
DOE Is Pursuing Pretreatment Alternatives, but Its Strategy Is Unclear While Costs Continue to RiseGAO-20-363: Published: May 12, 2020. Publicly Released: May 12, 2020.
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