Global Security Newswire

The U.S. Energy Department yesterday formally adopted a plan to reduce its nuclear weapons facilities, including an effort to consolidate weapon-grade uranium and plutonium at five sites instead of seven, according to a National Nuclear Security Administration release (see GSN, Oct. 10).

"We can now start moving forward on much-needed consolidation and reductions throughout our national security enterprise, shifting to more cost-effective operations that will save the taxpayer money," NNSA chief Thomas D'Agostino said in a press release. "This will improve the safety and security of the infrastructure that maintains U.S. nuclear weapons, helps prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and materials, and responds to potential nuclear terrorism or other emergencies."

D'Agostino signed two "records of decision" to implement the effort that was first announced in a draft environmental impact statement one year ago (see GSN, Dec. 3, 2007).

Highlights of the plan include consolidating weapon-grade materials at five sites and at fewer locations within those facilities, conducting all plutonium operations at the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico, handling all uranium work at the Y-12 facility in Tennessee, and keeping nuclear warhead assembly and disassembly activities at the Pantex facility in Texas (U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration release, Dec. 16).