Nuclear Materials: DOE Needs to Take Action to Reduce Risks Before Processing Additional Nuclear Material at the Savannah River Site's H-Canyon

摘要

During the Cold War, the Department of Energy (DOE) produced nuclear materials for nuclear weapons at its Savannah River Site (SRS) by dissolving highly radioactive spent nuclear fuel from reactors in a facility known as H-Canyon. DOE planned to end H-Canyon operations in 2007 but now plans to continue H-Canyon operations until 2019 to process additional nuclear material. GAO was asked to (1) identify the types of nuclear materials DOE will process using H-Canyon and its associated costs of operation, (2) determine whether SRS's radioactive waste storage tanks and associated nuclear waste facilities are capable of handling the additional waste generated by H-Canyon, and (3) describe H-Canyon's compliance with safety and environmental requirements. To conduct its work, GAO reviewed DOE's plans to process nuclear material using H-Canyon and visited SRS to observe the canyon and associated radioactive waste treatment facilities. GAO recommends that DOE (1) ensure that all of the HEU and plutonium that DOE identifies as suitable for processing using H-Canyon is included in the departments plans, (2) develop a comprehensive cost estimate that includes all associated costs to operate the canyon, and (3) develop a plan to ensure sufficient staff are available to complete safety analyses in a timely manner. In its comments, DOE cited the actions that it is taking to address these recommendations.