Nuclear Materials: Plutonium Storage at DOE's Rocky Flats Plant: RCED-95-49 (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9781287167181)

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the storage of plutonium at the Department of Energy's (DOE) Rocky Flats Plant, focusing on: (1) the safety of plutonium storage at the plant; and (2) DOE efforts to resolve plutonium storage problems.

GAO found that: (1) the 12.8 metric tons of plutonium stored at the DOE Rocky Flats Plant raises a number of important safety concerns; (2) the Rocky Flats plant faces the possibility of plutonium leaks, fire hazards, and worker exposure to plutonium because the plutonium has been packaged for short-term storage; (3) DOE has developed criteria for long-term plutonium storage and has begun inspecting plutonium metals for their compliance with fire safety standards to address its plutonium safety concerns; (4) it is difficult to accurately project time frames and costs for resolving plutonium storage problems at Rocky Flats because decisions on what to do with plutonium residues have not yet been made; and (5) resolving current and future safety concerns at the Rocky Flats Plant will likely require substantial investment and commitment.

Author: U. S. Government Accountability Office (
ISBN-10: 1287167187
ISBN-13: 9781287167181
Publisher: Bibliogov
Language: English
Published: 05/16/2013
Pages: 24
Format: Paperback
Weight: 0.14lbs
Size: 9.69h x 7.44w x 0.05d