Nuclear waste : DOE needs a comprehensive strategy and guidance on computer models that support environmental cleanup decisions : report to Congressional requesters.

Format:

Book

Government document

Author/Creator:

United States. Government Accountability Office

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

United States. Department of Energy. Office of Environmental Management--Rules and practice.

United States.

United States. Department of Energy. Office of Environmental Management.

Radioactive waste disposal--Computer simulation.

Radioactive waste disposal.

Radioactive waste disposal--United States.

Radioactive waste sites--Cleanup--United States.

Radioactive waste sites.

Radioactive waste sites--Cleanup.

Genre:

Rules and practice.

Rules.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (ii, 35 pages)

Other Title:

DOE Computer Modeling

Department of Energy needs a comprehensive strategy and guidance on computer models that support environmental cleanup decisions

Place of Publication:

[Washington, D.C.] : U.S. Govt. Accountability Office, [2011]

Summary:

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.

Contents:

Background

Computer models provide critical information to EM's environmental cleanup decision-making process

EM has general quality policies for its computer models but it has not regularly assessed contractors' implementation of quality assurance procedures

EM does not have an overall strategy and guidance for managing its cleanup models

Conclusions.

Notes:

"February 2011."

"GAO-11-143."

Title from PDF title page (viewed on Mar. 15, 2011).

Includes bibliographical references.

OCLC:

707340174