Legacy Management Activities at Selected Closure Sites
May 29, 2015
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May 29, 2015
Legacy Management Activities at Selected Closure Sites
In 2003, the Department of Energy (Department) established the Office of Legacy Management (Legacy Management) to better manage its long-term responsibilities following the completion of environmental remediation activities. For fiscal year (FY) 2015, the Department budgeted about $172 million for Legacy Management activities. Two of the Department's eight Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act sites receive more significant assistance from Legacy Management: the former Feed Materials Production Center, now known as the Fernald Preserve (Fernald), near Cincinnati, Ohio, and the Mound Site (Mound), in Miamisburg, Ohio.
Nothing came to our attention during our audit to indicate that Legacy Management had not adequately managed surveillance and maintenance activities at Fernald and Mound. However, we identified certain maintenance and public outreach–type activities where, in our judgment, there may be opportunities to achieve efficiencies while still fulfilling the Department's commitments at these sites. Legacy Management provides funding for the maintenance and monitoring activities for a series of artificially created ecosystems at Fernald, spending approximately $1.1 million in FY 2014. In addition, Legacy Management funds the operation of a visitor center and related public affairs program at Fernald, and a museum and public affairs program at Mound, spending about $1.2 million in FY 2014 on these activities. While we recognize the Department's responsibility for postclosure maintenance and making information available to surrounding communities, there may be opportunities to evaluate the level of support necessary to meet these commitments.
Topic: Management & Administration