Nuclear Waste
Transuranic Waste Storage Limitations at Rocky Flats Plant Gao ID: RCED-90-109 February 28, 1990GAO reviewed the Department of Energy's (DOE) plans for resolving the on-site waste storage problem at its Rocky Flats nuclear weapons plant.
GAO found that: (1) the shutdown of Rocky Flats weapons production facilities precluded accurate projections of the on-site waste storage capacity; (2) DOE took initiatives to extend the storage limit by reducing the volume of waste generated, removing some waste from the current radioactive-mixed waste inventory, and installing equipment to reduce the waste in the current inventory; (3) monthly generation of waste declined from an average of 361 cubic yards in fiscal year (FY) 1984 to 95 cubic yards during FY 1989; and (4) DOE took steps to increase employee awareness and training on using hazardous chemicals so that radioactive waste could be minimized.