Bechtel National Wednesday pushed back against a Department of Energy Office of Inspector General audit report that questioned the reliability of the contractor’s cost estimates for the Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant at the Hanford Site in Washington state.
“We believe that the report overlooks relevant factual data that is essential for consideration prior to forming conclusions,” a Bechtel spokesperson said in statement emailed to Exchange Monitor. “We stand by the quality of our work products and respect the oversight responsibilities of the [Office of Inspector General] and our DOE customer.”
“We remain transparent and will continue to strive to exceed expectations,” Bechtel said.
In September 2020, Bechtel and an Amentum predecessor admitted no wrongdoing but paid a nearly $58 million penalty to resolve claims they overbilled DOE for work at Hanford. In last week’s report the IG expressed continuing concerns over the reliability of the multi-billion-dollar plant to solidify radioactive tank waste in a glass-like substance.
DOE and Bechtel plan to start up Direct-Feed-Low-Activity-Waste solidification in 2025.
DOE “does not endorse the report’s conclusions” that Bechtel’s labor cost projections improperly benefitted the contractor or disadvantaged the taxpayer, according to DOE comments signed by Robert Irwin, a manager with the agency’s Office of River Protection at Hanford. DOE, however, “recognizes the IG recommendations and has largely addressed the recommendations.”
