Summary: GAO reviewed the Department of Energy's (DOE) demonstration and deployment of the atomic vapor laser isotope separation (AVLIS) program and the building of an AVLIS plant, focusing on technical, program, and economic issues.
GAO found that: (1) independent experts believe that the AVLIS demonstration program will be successful, but the program will not provide the specific cost information needed for a complete evaluation of deployment by the end of 1992 due to unresolved technical issues; (2) by November 1992, DOE will not have fully demonstrated the processes needed to effectively integrate AVLIS into the existing nuclear fuel cycle; (3) such program activities as plant licensing and site selection and preparation will delay AVLIS plant construction beyond 1993; (4) DOE stopped most AVLIS program activities for fiscal year (FY) 1992 in anticipation of the formation of a government corporation to complete such activities, but DOE has not developed any contingency plan for deploying the AVLIS technology should a government corporation not be formed; (5) an updated and expanded uranium enrichment market analysis is needed before any decision is made about building an AVLIS plant; and (6) DOE stopped a planned program that was to obtain private companies' expertise in deploying a commercial plant.
