October 14, 2014

IG Criticizes Livermore of Size of Vehicle Fleet

By ExchangeMonitor

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory could have done more to reduce the size of its vehicle fleet, according to a Department of Energy Inspector General report that suggests the lab didn’t adequately look into replacing some of its 770 vehicles with other modes of transportation. The IG report released yesterday notes that a “fleet leveling” exercise in 2013 led to a 1 percent decrease in the size of the lab’s vehicle fleet, but it did not account for using other methods of transportation, which the IG suggested could include more use of motor equipment pools, taxicabs and shuttle buses. In 2011, then-Energy Secretary Steven Chu challenged DOE to reduce its fleet inventory by 35 percent, the IG said. The lab spent $3.7 million in Fiscal Year 2014 for its transportation systems, which the IG said were often used to get to on-site meetings and for on-site errands at its one-square-mile campus.

That cost included $3.3 million for the 770 vehicles, $268,000 to operate a taxi service of four vehicles, and $138,000 to operate and maintain a fleet of 554 bicycles. “LLNL did not consider whether mass transit modes such as increasing the use of shuttle buses and/or the taxi service would permit the reduction of individual vehicles,” the IG said. “Furthermore, LLNL did not have adequate controls to encourage individuals to consider other modes of transportation, such as the taxi service, before using a Government vehicle. As a result, it was our view that the fleet leveling process did not achieve meaningful reductions in the number of vehicles in LLNL’s fleet, a fleet which remained significant.”

Livermore spokeswoman Lynda Seaver noted that the IG report found that the lab met NNSA usage standards. “The Laboratory strives to maintain a cost effective and environmentally responsible fleet management program,” Seaver said in a statement. “Each year the Laboratory conducts an assessment to ensure the proper number of vehicles is included within the fleet, and has been working steadily to decrease the fleet as appropriate. The Lab will continue to work with Livermore Field Office of the NNSA to ensure it meets all vehicle usage guidelines.”

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