Megaproblems

Explain what went wrong at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation in Washington.

The problem was going too fast. They had an approach called design-build. Design, then build more. Then design. Then build. That does not work well for a project on nuclear waste. If some big factor changes, everything you designed and built is flawed. The original cost estimate was $4.6 billion. Now we’re looking at $12 billion. It was supposed to go live initially in 2009; now it’s 2019.

Is there something fundamentally wrong with megaprojects?

Yes: not enough oversight and rigor to the process. At Hanford, the Department of Energy gave Bechtel too much leeway, allowed Bechtel to reschedule inspections, not turn in papers, not report serious problems. And they did so gleefully and hid major problems. A study of projects [that cost] $100 million or more found that 80 percent had ended in failure.

Why does Bechtel seem to be involved in every megaproject?

They have the capability. They are known for building big projects – dams, airport runways, bridges. And they are socked in nicely with the political structure.

Once a project goes sour, like the Big Dig, can it ever regain public confidence?

Sure. It takes a couple years. They’ll have to be more transparent, allow independent regulation.

What was your reaction when you heard about the tunnel ceiling accident that caused Milena Del Valle’s death?

Obviously it was tragic. But at the Hanford site, the NRC was overseeing the project and did a study that said an accident at the plant could lead to a meltdown or steam explosion.

You spend your days studying how others design and build things. How are you with a hammer and nails?

Ha! Terrible. My last name is Carpenter. I’ve been a Carpenter for 49 years. But I can’t drive a nail straight.

What’s the biggest job you’ve ever done?

Let’s see. Treehouse. I had help.

You subcontracted it out?

We had a friend; he knew what he was doing. But I felt proud to be a part of it.

Stay on budget?

It did, interestingly. If you estimate right and are honest about it, things happen. If you’re building your house, you can expect a 10 to 15 percent increase. You won’t expect three times the cost on building your house. There would be lawsuits.

Will the Big Dig’s current problems keep Massachusetts from going ahead with future megaprojects?

They’ll be built, and they’ll use Bechtel again. If you want to see behavior change in a corporation like Bechtel, you need better accountability. If someone took engineering shortcuts, you need criminal penalties. But I don’t see any real movement – unless you have more deaths or more failures.
– Doug Most