Summary: Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO: (1) identified key environmental issues at nine Department of Energy (DOE) nuclear defense facilities; and (2) evaluated the status of DOE efforts to strengthen its environmental, safety, and health oversight programs.
GAO found that: (1) eight facilities have groundwater contaminated with radioactive or hazardous substances at levels higher than the proposed standards; (2) although six facilities have soil contamination in unexpected areas, including off-site locations, DOE sees a potential public health threat at only one of the facilities; (3) four facilities are not in full compliance with the Clean Water Act; (4) to obtain permits under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), all nine facilities are significantly changing their waste disposal practices by closing existing disposal facilities or building new treatment facilities; and (5) it may cost over $1 billion to bring the facilities into full compliance with environmental laws and obtain the necessary permits.
