Nuclear Weapons Complex:
Issues Surrounding Consolidating Los Alamos and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories
T-RCED-92-98: Published: Sep 24, 1992. Publicly Released: Sep 24, 1992.
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GAO discussed the Department of Energy's (DOE) nuclear weapons laboratories, focusing on: (1) the research, development, and testing (RD&T) capabilities of the Los Alamos and Livermore National Laboratories; (2) trends in staffing and funding at both DOE weapons laboratories; and (3) options for consolidating both programs. GAO noted that: (1) DOE maintains redundant nuclear warhead RD&T infrastructures to simulate competition between nations; (2) both laboratories' responsibilities include nuclear warhead design, RD&T capabilities, materials and fabrication research, high explosive technology development, and weapons engineering and testing; (3) the concurrent and independent approaches have led to development of specialized knowledge and capabilities; (4) staffing and funding levels have continued to decline, forcing both laboratories to expand areas of development and find alternative funding sources; (5) due to the decrease in funds, some consolidation of the two laboratories is expected; (6) savings are possible through consolidation, but the laboratories believe they are small relative to the entire nuclear weapons complex funding; (7) both laboratories advocate continuing the two-laboratory structure for weapons design; (8) Los Alamos believes that the structure may need to be altered, but both programs must maintain peer review and benefits from competition; and (9) DOE expects to broaden the laboratories' missions to include nuclear waste management and modernization on the nuclear weapons complex.
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
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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.
Apr 29, 2020
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Priority Open Recommendations:
Department of EnergyGAO-20-285PR: Published: Apr 22, 2020. Publicly Released: Apr 29, 2020.
Apr 17, 2020
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Priority Open Recommendations:
Nuclear Regulatory CommissionGAO-20-286PR: Published: Apr 10, 2020. Publicly Released: Apr 17, 2020.
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