“Federal officials have refused to publicly release information about the cost and scope of a planned Uranium Processing Facility (UPF) in Tennessee, even as the project moves toward the design and construction phase. The Project On Government Oversight (POGO) has raised alarms about the scant details that have been revealed about the multi-billion dollar UPF project at the Y-12 National Security Complex. Last month, POGO wrote leaders on the House and Senate appropriations committees questioning both the cost and mission of the proposed facility, which would among other things manufacture components for nuclear warheads. Since Congress approved the UPF project in 2005, costs have skyrocketed from $1 billion to potentially up to $19 billion, and delays have pushed the estimated completion back 12 years. The National Nuclear Security Administration is currently reevaluating the project, which will affect both the design and mission scope. POGO, as well as others, has criticized a “big box” facility and urged NNSA to consider moving operations to other buildings at Y-12 and in the complex and build a smaller facility if necessary.  Because of the uncertainty about the final design and scope of the UPF, last week’s announcement that Bechtel National Inc. was awarded a subcontract to handle the UPF design and construction raises some serious concerns.  The National Nuclear Security Administration has not responded to requests from POGO for details about Bechtel’s role or updates on the cost and timeline for UPF completion.”