September 24, 2004

Audit Report on "Management Controls Over Title X Claims Reimbursement at the West Chicago Thorium Processing Facility

In 1992, Congress passed Title X of the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (Title X) which established the authority and framework for providing Federal assistance for the remediation of contamination at active uranium and thorium sites. Congress authorized the reimbursement of cleanup costs, on a cost-sharing basis, and has established a reimbursement limit of $365 million (plus inflation). Title X required the Department to administer all claims related to active uranium and thorium licensees. Federal regulation also provided the Department with claim approval authority and authorized it to obtain assurance as to the appropriateness for costs claimed by auditing documentation used to support claims for reimbursement.