Management and Safety Issues Concerning DOE's Production Reactors at Savannah River, S.C.

GAO discussed its ongoing audit of the Department of Energy's (DOE) production reactors at its Savannah River Plant, specifically: (1) the testing methods DOE uses to determine potential cracks in the reactor tank walls; (2) a recent reduction in the operating power of the plant's reactors for safety reasons; and (3) the lack of prompt management attention in addressing reactor operations and maintenance problems. GAO found that: (1) the contractor operating the plant for DOE relies on a visual method for testing for cracks, which does not ensure identification of all the weld areas; (2) the commercial nuclear industry and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission feel that the ultrasonic method is the preferred inspection method; (3) the plant operator does not plan to begin even partial ultrasonic testing until 1988; (4) in 1986, the plant operator reduced the operating reactors' power levels by 26 percent after a review raised questions about the emergency cooling system's ability to prevent a fuel meltdown during an accident; and (5) the reactors had operated for about 6 years at a power level that may have been unsafe in the event of an accident. GAO noted that management inattention may have contributed to several problems including: (1) a backlog of recommended actions stemming from the reactor incident report system; (2) inadequate information and guidance concerning reactor repairs and maintenance; and (3) inadequate on-the-job training for mechanics.