Post by pavel on Jan 25, 2016 15:57:12 GMT -6
A nuclear safety agency has reported the federal Department of Energy recently approved plans to ramp up production of plutonium “pits,” the core that that triggers nuclear weapons, at Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico, which could lead to more warhead refurbishment work at the Pantex Plant northeast of Amarillo.
The plans include a big increase in plutonium capacity at an existing facility at Los Alamos and new laboratory space for pit production, part of plans to get pit production up and rolling.
The changes were the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board, a Congressional oversight agency, and follow directives from the Department of Defense and Congress to increase pit production for upgrades the nation’s nuclear weapons stockpile.
Lab watchdogs in New Mexico question the DOE’s plans to make more of the nuclear triggers.
Read more: amarillo.com/news/latest-news/2016-01-24/rise-plutonium-production-points-more-work-pantex
The plans include a big increase in plutonium capacity at an existing facility at Los Alamos and new laboratory space for pit production, part of plans to get pit production up and rolling.
The changes were the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board, a Congressional oversight agency, and follow directives from the Department of Defense and Congress to increase pit production for upgrades the nation’s nuclear weapons stockpile.
Lab watchdogs in New Mexico question the DOE’s plans to make more of the nuclear triggers.
Read more: amarillo.com/news/latest-news/2016-01-24/rise-plutonium-production-points-more-work-pantex