Nuclear Materials:
Information on DOE's Replacement Tritium Facility
RCED-90-54: Published: Nov 22, 1989. Publicly Released: Dec 22, 1989.
Additional Materials:
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Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Department of Energy's (DOE) plans to complete and operate its replacement tritium facility, focusing on: (1) how the facility would correct the present facility's shortcomings; and (2) why estimated costs for construction and start-up have greatly increased since the project began in 1986.
GAO found that: (1) the new facility will increase work-load capacity, provide greater resistance to natural hazards and sabotage, and greatly reduce tritium releases; (2) construction costs increased by 20 percent, from $120 million to $144 million, and start-up costs increased by 350 percent, from $17 million to $62 million; (3) DOE attributed the construction cost increases to greater DOE quality assurance, fire protection, and security requirements, underestimated design and construction costs, and increases in the cost of such materials as stainless steel; and (4) DOE attributed the increased start-up costs to more stringent safety standards and corrections of errors it made in earlier estimates due to inexperience in making estimates for such a unique facility.
Dec 10, 2020
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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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