Nuclear nonproliferation

Technical Report · Sat Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1988

OSTI ID:5374973

The Department of Energy has taken some actions to implement a 1981 congressional mandate to limit the dissemination of unclassified information related to atomic defense activities. Nevertheless, sensitive countries--communist-controlled nations, countries suspected of developing nuclear weapons, or those viewed as a national security risk--have obtained information dealing with detonators, explosives, and firing sets that could assist or enhance nuclear weapons development. Foreign nationals obtain some information directly from DOE's weapons laboratories; DOE does not require the laboratories to track these requests. DOE recognizes that continuing to disseminate some unclassified information raises questions about its compliance with U.S. nonproliferation policy and in January 1989 issued internal guidance to identify data that should not be distributed to proliferation-risk countries.

• Research Organization: General Accounting Office, Washington, DC (USA). Resources, Community and Economic Development Div.
• OSTI ID: 5374973
• Report Number(s): GAO/RCED-89-116
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290600 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Nuclear Energy
350200* -- Arms Control-- Proliferation-- (1987-)
98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL PROTECTION
INDUSTRY
INFORMATION SYSTEMS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NATIONAL SECURITY
NON-PROLIFERATION POLICY
NORTH AMERICA
NUCLEAR INDUSTRY
NUCLEAR WEAPONS
RECOMMENDATIONS
RISK ASSESSMENT
SECURITY
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
US DOE
US ORGANIZATIONS
USA
WEAPONS