Nuclear Science:
Issues Associated With Completing WNP-1 as a Defense Materials Production Reactor
RCED-88-222: Published: Sep 21, 1988. Publicly Released: Sep 21, 1988.
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Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO assessed safety, cost, scheduling, and legal issues associated with the Department of Energy's (DOE) proposed acquisition and completion of Washington Nuclear Plant 1 (WNP-1), a partially completed commercial nuclear power plant, to serve as a nuclear weapons materials production facility.
GAO found that: (1) the owners of WNP-1 halted construction due to financial problems and decreased electrical power needs; (2) the plant had no major safety, technical, or other barriers to preclude its consideration as an option for a nuclear weapons materials reactor; (3) an August 1986 DOE study concluded that DOE could modify the reactor for defense production purposes, possibly at a lower initial cost and shorter schedule; (4) DOE has not yet resolved several safety-related concerns regarding the use of pressurized light-water reactors, decay-heat removal, station blackout, production capacity, and incomplete probabilistic risk assessment; (5) issues with possible effects on plant completion costs and schedule included design changes, technical issues involving tritium production, establishment of safety standards, legal questions involving acquisition cost, and policy issues; (6) completion of the plant would not violate federal law; and (7) plant condemnation would not constitute default or make bonds immediately due and payable.
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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