Nuclear Health and Safety: Oversight at DOE's Nuclear Facilities Can Be Strengthened
RCED-88-137
Published: Jul 08, 1988. Publicly Released: Jul 08, 1988.
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Highlights
In response to a congressional request, GAO examined the Department of Energy's (DOE) environment, safety, and health (ES&H) activities, including: (1) the possibility that DOE could reduce the visibility and management it currently gives to safety and health issues; (2) legislatively mandated independent oversight of DOE nuclear facilities; and (3) unclear safety standards.
Recommendations
Matter for Congressional Consideration
| Matter | Status | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Congress should amend the Department of Energy Organization Act to specifically establish the position of Assistant Secretary for ES&H to institutionalize this key component of the DOE oversight program. | Congress passed and the President signed P.L. 100-456 on September 27, 1988, establishing a Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board to oversee the safety of the DOE nuclear defense complex. This law incorporates many features GAO recommended. In view of this board, it is very doubtful that Congress will give legislative status to the DOE ES&H organization. | |
| Congress should legislatively establish independent oversight of DOE nuclear defense facilities which will satisfy the five GAO key criteria. | Congress passed and the President signed P.L. 100-456 on September 29, 1988, establishing the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board to oversee the safety of the DOE nuclear defense complex. This law incorporates many features GAO recommended. It is too soon to tell how effective the board can be. |
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Energy | The Secretary of Energy should revise DOE orders to establish meaningful safety standards and implementation policies to guide continued operation of existing facilities and to use as baseline safety criteria for developing its future strategy for the defense complex. This revision should include a formal process to: (1) clearly identify the commercial standards, guides, and codes that should be applied to DOE nuclear facilities; and (2) justify when a standard is not met. |
A formal process for the identification of standards was established with the issuance of DOE Order 5480.23, "Nuclear Safety Analysis Reports", on April 30, 1992. DOE Order 1300.2A, "Department of Energy Standards Program", was also significantly revised to require the use of industry standards.
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Topics
Congressional oversightEnvironmental monitoringInternal controlsNuclear facility safetyNuclear weapons plant safetySafety regulationSafety standardsStandards evaluationNuclear facilitiesHealth and safety