Nuclear Health and Safety:
Summary of Major Problems at DOE's Rocky Flats Plant
RCED-89-53BR: Published: Oct 27, 1988. Publicly Released: Oct 27, 1988.
Additional Materials:
- Full Report:
Contact:
In response to a congressional request, GAO summarized the major environmental, safety, and health (ES&H) problems at the Department of Energy's (DOE) Rocky Flats Nuclear Weapons Plant, which is the focal point for DOE plutonium operations.
GAO found that: (1) since 1986, DOE has performed three technical safety appraisals, which made 230 recommendations covering a wide range of safety and health standards; (2) many of the recommendations applied to more than one building and generally related to inadequate management attention to the plant's safety and health programs and deficient radiological and fire protection; (3) the plant lacked specific safety objectives and adequate oversight to ensure the completion and effectiveness of corrective actions; (4) although DOE instituted a series of short-term measures to improve plant conditions in February 1988, an internal plant appraisal in September 1988 indicated that safety and health programs still needed improvement; and (5) operations officials did not provide the plant contractor with sufficient direction, emphasis, and guidance. GAO also found that: (1) groundwater contamination and inactive waste sites were the plant's two major interrelated environmental contamination problems; and (2) DOE estimated that the cost to correct or reduce the contamination through 1995 would total $323 million and an additional $120 million to $180 million to complete corrective actions. In addition, GAO found that: (1) many of the plant buildings were built in 1950 and did not meet modern standards and codes; (2) building deterioration affected operations and many buildings needed considerable day-to-day maintenance; (3) DOE estimated that rebuilding and upgrading the plant would cost over $1 billion; and (4) DOE ordered the shutdown of operations in one building because of its inadequate radiological safety margins and its age.
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
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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.
Looking for more? Browse all our products here