Report: DOE Cleanup Falls Short

May 4, 2000
Congressional auditors question whether the Department of Energy can clean up a Kentucky uranium enrichment plant on schedule and within budget.

There is "reason to doubt" the Department of Energy (DOE) can clean up a uranium enrichment plant in Kentucky on schedule and get that work done within its budget, congressional auditors said Tuesday.

A report by the General Accounting Office (GAO), the investigative and auditing arm of Congress, states that DOE estimates it will take another 10 years and $1.3 billion to complete its efforts to identify and remove toxic and radioactive contamination at the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant. That is in addition to $400 million it already has spent.

The report indicates it probably will take much more time and money to clean up the plant, where uranium used to be enriched by the government for bombs and is now enriched by a private company for nuclear power.

"DOE faces many challenges to completing its cleanup as planned," the report stated. It was released to The Associated Press by Sen. Jim Bunning, R-Ky., who ordered the audit.

GAO reported that uncertainties about the extent, source and nature of the contamination could affect the department''s timeline and cost estimates. The report also states that the agency''s overall plan falls short of what actually needs to be done.

Even when the planned cleanup has been carried out, billions of dollars and many years will be needed to address areas at the Paducah site that are not in the cleanup plan, the report stated.

It said the plan does not address large amounts of waste and scrap material, some of which poses a risk of an uncontrolled nuclear reaction that could threaten worker safety. The report states that such a reaction could produce a burst of radiation lasting several hours, but it would be localized and would not result in an explosion or release of radioactivity into the atmosphere.

Carolyn L. Huntoon, DOE assistant secretary for environmental management, said in a written response to the GAO that the report does not account for ongoing work and improvements at the site.

Huntoon also criticized the document for failing "to offer specific alternatives or recommendations regarding DOE''s planning assumptions and targets for completing work."

Bunning expects the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee to hold a hearing on the report, possibly as soon as next week.

by Todd Nighswonger

About the Author

EHS Today Staff

EHS Today's editorial staff includes:

Dave Blanchard, Editor-in-Chief: During his career Dave has led the editorial management of many of Endeavor Business Media's best-known brands, including IndustryWeekEHS Today, Material Handling & LogisticsLogistics Today, Supply Chain Technology News, and Business Finance. In addition, he serves as senior content director of the annual Safety Leadership Conference. With over 30 years of B2B media experience, Dave literally wrote the book on supply chain management, Supply Chain Management Best Practices (John Wiley & Sons, 2021), which has been translated into several languages and is currently in its third edition. He is a frequent speaker and moderator at major trade shows and conferences, and has won numerous awards for writing and editing. He is a voting member of the jury of the Logistics Hall of Fame, and is a graduate of Northern Illinois University.

Adrienne Selko, Senior Editor: In addition to her roles with EHS Today and the Safety Leadership Conference, Adrienne is also a senior editor at IndustryWeek and has written about many topics, with her current focus on workforce development strategies. She is also a senior editor at Material Handling & Logistics. Previously she was in corporate communications at a medical manufacturing company as well as a large regional bank. She is the author of Do I Have to Wear Garlic Around My Neck?, which made the Cleveland Plain Dealer's best sellers list.

Nicole Stempak, Managing Editor:  Nicole Stempak is managing editor of EHS Today and conference content manager of the Safety Leadership Conference.

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