While local published reports term the DOT's consideration an"investigation," Peter Babachicos, a project manager at the DOT'soffice here tells GlobeSt.com that he wouldn't call it aninvestigation or even an audit. "We're doing research, he says."It's preliminary work and we haven't decided whether to proceedwith an audit."

One billion dollars in claims charges have already been paid outto contractors on the Big Dig, according to Sean O'Neill,spokesperson for the Big Dig. Approximately $1.2 billion in claimsissues need to still be considered. Historically, about half ofwhat is claimed by the contractor is usually paid. "We are wellwithin our negotiation range," O'Neill tells GlobeSt.com.

Babachicos insists that nothing prompted the DOT's decision tostart looking into the claims process. "Claims are an importantissue," he says. "We'll make a decision on whether it's worth doingan audit." An audit of the claims process was last done in1994.