Nuclear Health and Safety
Dealing With Problems in the Nuclear Defense Complex Expected to Cost Over $100 Billion Gao ID: RCED-88-197BR July 6, 1988In response to a congressional request, GAO examined problem areas in the Department of Energy's (DOE) nuclear defense facilities and the estimated costs to resolve the problems.
GAO found that DOE will need to: (1) upgrade its existing nuclear facilities to meet defense needs and to ensure that the facilities conform to safety and environmental standards; (2) clean up most of the groundwater contamination in all its facilities, including those at inactive waste sites; (3) develop adequate groundwater monitoring procedures and quality assurance programs at several sites; and (4) dispose of high-level radioactive wastes in all of its facilities. GAO also found that recent DOE cost data indicate that it will cost from $100 billion to over $130 billion to address these problems and another $15 billion to $25 billion to cover expanded capability costs and relocation costs.