Interim storage of dismantled nuclear weapon components at the U.S. Department of Energy Pantex Plant

Conference · Sun Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1995

OSTI ID:182996

Guidice, S J; Inlow, R O ^[1]

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1. USDOE Albuquerque Operations Office, NM (United States)

Following the events of 1989 and the subsequent cessation of production of new nuclear weapons by the US, the mission of the Department of Energy (DOE) Nuclear Weapons Complex has shifted from production to dismantlement of retired weapons. The sole site in the US for accomplishing the dismantlement mission is the DOE Pantex Plant near Amarillo, Texas. Pending a national decision on the ultimate storage and disposition of nuclear components form the dismantled weapons, the storage magazines within the Pantex Plant are serving as the interim storage site for pits--the weapon plutonium-bearing component. The DOE has stipulated that Pantex will provide storage for up to 12,000 pits pending a Record of Decision on a comprehensive site-wide Environmental Impact Statement in November 1996.

• OSTI ID: 182996
• Report Number(s): CONF-950917--; ISBN 0-7918-1219-7
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

05 NUCLEAR FUELS
45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE
CAPACITY
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
INVENTORIES
NUCLEAR WEAPONS DISMANTLEMENT
PANTEX PLANT
PHYSICAL PROTECTION DEVICES
PLUTONIUM
ROBOTS
SECURITY
STORAGE
STORAGE FACILITIES