Efforts to Improve DOE's Management of the Nuclear Weapons Complex

GAO discussed the Department of Energy's (DOE) efforts to resolve environmental, safety, and health problems at its nuclear weapons facilities. GAO found that DOE: (1) took a number of initiatives to deal with major problems involving facility deterioration, noncompliance with environmental, safety, and health standards, improper disposal of radioactive wastes, and contaminated groundwater; (2) issued strategic plans for modernization and environmental cleanup activities at its facilities, and made efforts to hold its contractors more accountable; (3) restructured its oversight and management functions to ensure the safe operation of its facilities; and (4) began facility assessments to determine whether they met federal, state, and local environmental, safety, and health standards. GAO concluded that successful management of DOE nuclear facilities depended on: (1) effective coordination among program offices; (2) recruitment of technically qualified staff; and (3) the commitment to resolve environmental, safety, and health problems at all departmental levels.