Nation IN BRIEF : WASHINGTON, D.C. : Possible Conflict in Nuclear Plant Audits

At least two firms hired by the Energy Department as independent investigators of environmental and safety conditions at nuclear weapons plants are on the payroll at facilities they investigated, government records show. Others participating in the audits had bid for Energy Department contracts at sites they studied, although they were not yet working there. Still others, while not associated with the plants they audited, are prime contractors at other nuclear bomb factories. Department guidelines for carrying out the “independent tiger team” investigations include a provision aimed at avoiding organizational conflicts of interest.