Nuclear Materials:
Removing Plutonium Residues From Rocky Flats Will Be Difficult and Costly
RCED-92-219: Published: Sep 4, 1992. Publicly Released: Sep 16, 1992.
Additional Materials:
- Full Report:
Contact:
Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO examined the backlog of plutonium residues at the Department of Energy's (DOE) Rocky Flats Nuclear Weapons Plant, focusing on: (1) the quantity of low-level plutonium residues stored at the plant; and (2) DOE plans for removing the backlog.
GAO found that: (1) as of November 1991, the plant had about 97,000 kilograms of solid residues containing 2,800 kilograms of plutonium, and over 14,000 liters of liquid residues containing 91 kilograms of plutonium; (2) the DOE decision to cease plant operations requires residue removal and plant decontamination; (3) DOE can not remove the residues in their present form because they do not meet shipping and disposal requirements; (4) DOE has been studying three options for removal, but will not make its final decision prior to 1993, although it has developed a preliminary removal plan in response to a compliance order issued by the Colorado Department of Health; (5) the plant's limited capacity to process or prepare the residues for shipment will create substantial additional costs; and (6) DOE is developing a long-term strategy for managing its entire plutonium inventory, is preparing comprehensive cost estimates, and is assessing the availability of waste disposal facilities.
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
Explore our Key Issues on Energy
- Air Quality
- Climate Change Funding and Management
- Climate Change Response
- Department of Energy's Contract Management for the National Nuclear Security Administration and Office of Environmental Management - High Risk Issue
- Economic Sanctions
- Electricity Markets, Grid Security and Resilience
- Hardrock Mining on Federal Lands
- Improving Federal Programs that Serve Tribes and Their Members - High Risk Issue
- Limiting the Federal Government's Fiscal Exposure by Better Managing Climate Change Risks - High Risk Issue
- Management of Federal Oil and Gas Resources - High Risk Issue
- Managing Federal Lands and Waters
- Nuclear Energy
- Nuclear Nonproliferation
- Nuclear Waste Disposal
- Nuclear Weapons and Forces Sustainment and Modernization
- Oil, Natural Gas, and Alternative Fuels
- Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions
- Security of Radioactive Materials
- Tribal and Native American Issues
- Understanding Climate Change
- U.S. Arctic Interests
Explore our other Key Issues here
