DOE Management: Implementing the Environmental Restoration Management Contractor Concept

GAO discussed the Department of Energy's (DOE): (1) implementation of its environmental restoration management contractor (ERMC) program for cleaning up its nuclear weapons facilities; and (2) responses to recommendations for improving the program's pilot tests. GAO noted that: (1) DOE has selected ERMC for one of its two test sites; (2) DOE selection of ERMC for its Hanford, Washington, site has been delayed due to a bid protest; (3) DOE has not fully complied with recommendations and is still developing its plan for evaluating the pilot tests; (4) DOE has identified its staffing needs for ERMC oversight, but it has not obtained all the staff needed to oversee the pilot tests because of personnel ceilings; (5) DOE has not identified its overall training needs or developed a training plan for its staff; (6) low staffing levels and other priorities have delayed DOE development of its training plan and limited DOE staff training opportunities; and (7) DOE is developing a plan for complying with a safety board's recommendations for improving its oversight.