Audits

We released our review of the Department’s oversight of the transportation of nuclear waste. We found that DOT needs to take steps to be fully prepared as the Department of Energy (DOE) ramps up its program for transferring nuclear waste from temporary to permanent storage. We recommended that DOT (1) designate a focal point to timely and effectively address budget, resource, regulatory, coordination, infrastructure, routing, environmental, and safety issues that may arise with increased shipments of nuclear waste, and (2) establish and maintain senior-level coordination with DOE regarding transportation of nuclear waste. DOT agreed with the recommendations and anticipates completing them by April 2002.