Audit of the Richland Operations Office Site Characterization Program
March 20, 1995
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March 20, 1995
Audit of the Richland Operations Office Site Characterization Program
In 1989 the Secretary of Energy changed the mission of the Richland Operations Office (Richland) from supporting weapons production to environmental restoration and waste management. Richland's new mission required close coordination with Federal and State Environmental Regulatory Agencies. On May 15, 1989,
Richland, the Washington State Department of Ecology, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency negotiated and signed the
Hanford Federal Facility Agreement and Consent Order (Tri-Party Agreement). Through this agreement, Richland was required to survey Hanford for contaminants, analyze samples, and determine the most cost-effective method to clean up the waste identified. The objective of this audit was to determine if the Department of Energy (Department) and Richland had evaluated alternatives to accomplish certain site characterization activities in a cost-effective manner.