Audit of the Department of Energy`s Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory

The Department of Energy (DOE) is responsible for examining all options in acquiring major systems to ensure that funds and existing facilities and equipment are used effectively. The objective of this audit was to determine whether the Office of Energy Research had evaluated all practical alternatives in building and equipping the proposed Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory which is estimated to cost about $230 million. The audit showed that all practical alternatives were not evaluated as required. Consequently, DOE may have missed an opportunity to not only avoid spending a significant amount of the $230 million, but also an opportunity to more effectively utilize existing national laboratories and equipment