March 3, 2003

Treatment of Mixed Incinerable Waste

We found the Department of Energy (Department) was not treating its mixed incinerable solid waste expeditiously or cost-effectively. Specifically, the Department: • Did not fully utilize the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Incinerator or the Vacuum-Assisted Thermal Desorption (VTD) System; • Stored about 2.5 million pounds of incinerable waste at seven sites rather than treating the waste in Oak Ridge; and, • Approved development of an additional VTD treatment facility in Utah, even though existing facilities were underutilized in Oak Ridge.