GAO: DOE Is Prematurely Excluding Less Expensive Options for Nuclear Cleanup (gao.gov)

Article summary

The US Department of Energy (DOE) spends billions of dollars on large projects for nuclear waste cleanup, but the Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that the DOE's planning process may prematurely exclude less expensive options. The GAO recommends that the DOE include independent experts in the planning process to ensure all viable solutions are considered. The DOE has concurred with the GAO's recommendations. The GAO's study examined the DOE's planning process for large capital asset projects and found that the department's standards for defining mission need were not being followed.

Main themes

• Nuclear waste cleanup
• Government spending
• Project planning
• Cost savings
• Regulatory constraints
• Wealth tax

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