Nuclear waste
Subtitle: DOE needs a comprehensive strategy and guidance on computer models that support environmental cleanup decisions : report to Congressional requesters
Publisher: U.S. Govt. Accountability Office
Published: 2011
Place of publication: Washington, D.C.]
Language: eng
Format: [electronic resource] :
Number of pages: 35
Subjects: Rules and practice; Radioactive waste disposal; Computer simulation; Radioactive waste sites; Cleanup; United States. Department of Energy. Office of Environmental Management; United States
Other titles: Nuclear waste :; Department of Energy needs a comprehensive strategy and guidance on computer models that support environmental cleanup decisions
Description: The Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Environmental Management (EM) is responsible for one of the world's largest cleanup programs: treatment and disposal of radioactive and hazardous waste created as a by-product of nuclear weapons production and energy research at sites across the country, such as EM's Hanford Site in Washington State and the Savannah River Site (SRS) in South Carolina. Computer models, which represent physical and biogeochemical processes as mathematical formulas, are one tool EM uses in the cleanups. GAO was asked to (1) describe how EM uses computer models in cleanup decisions; (2) evaluate how EM ensures the quality of its computer models; and (3) assess EM's overall strategy for managing its computer models. GAO analyzed the use of selected models in decisions at Hanford and SRS, reviewed numerous quality assurance documents, and interviewed DOE officials as well as contractors and regulators.
Notes: Title from PDF title page (viewed on Mar. 15, 2011).

"February 2011."

"GAO-11-143."

Includes bibliographical references.
Table of contents: title: Background; title: Computer models provide critical information to EM's environmental cleanup decision-making process; title: EM has general quality policies for its computer models but it has not regularly assessed contractors' implementation of quality assurance procedures; title: EM does not have an overall strategy and guidance for managing its cleanup models; title: Conclusions.