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GAO-07-227R 1 (2006-11-16)

handle is hein.gao/gaocrptatxt0001 and id is 1 raw text is: S=GAO Accountability * Integrity * Reliability United States Government Accountability Office Washington, DC 20548 November 16, 2006 The Honorable Wayne Allard Chairman The Honorable Richard Durbin Ranking Minority Member Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch Committee on Appropriations United States Senate The Honorable Jerry Lewis Chairman The Honorable David Obey Ranking Minority Member Committee on Appropriations House of Representatives Subject: Capitol Power Plant Utility Tunnels The Architect of the Capitol (AOC), through the Capitol Power Plant (CPP), operates five walkable utility tunnels' containing steam and chilled water pipes associated with serving the heating and cooling requirements of the U.S. Capitol and 23 surrounding facilities. The tunnels also carry other utilities, such as fiber optic and telephone lines. The Office of Compliance (OOC), which is responsible for advancing safety, health, and workplace rights in the legislative branch, and the tunnel workers have raised concerns about health and safety issues in the tunnels. Specifically, in March 2006, the utility tunnel workers sent a letter to Congress complaining of unsafe working conditions in the tunnels, including falling concrete, asbestos, and extreme heat.2 In February 2006, OOC filed a complaint against AOC concerning hazards in the tunnels, including falling concrete, an inadequate communication system for these confined spaces, and inadequate escape exits. According to OOC officials, these conditions had been previously brought to the attention of AOC by OOC inspectors as early as 1999. Following a reinspection in mid-2005, OOC determined that AOC had not made sufficient progress in addressing them and that conditions in the tunnels had deteriorated further. In addition, in January 2006, OOC issued citations for and asked AOC to address a potential asbestos hazard and heat stress 'The tunnels are not identified by name in this report for security reasons. 2On October 18, 2006, the utility tunnel workers filed a whistleblower complaint against AOC alleging that they were retaliated against after they informed Members of Congress about the conditions in the tunnels. GAO-07-227R Capitol Power Plant Utility Tunnels

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