LLNL's role in dismantling nuclear warheads

Journal Article · · Energy and Technology Review (Livermore, California); (United States)

OSTI ID:7117640

Dow, J P

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and Sandia/California weapons and safety specialists are working with personnel at the Pantex Plant to ensure that dismantlement for Livermore-designed nuclear weapons is conducted safely and in accordance with technical and scientific requirements. The United States dismantles it nuclear weapons at only one facility - the Department of Energy's Pantex Plant near Amarillo, Texas. The contractor who operates this facility-Mason Hanger-Silas Mason Co., Inc. - is responsible for the storage, disassembly, and disposal of the nuclear weapons returned to Pantex. Dismantlement takes place for two reasons: as part of the stockpile surveillance program and as weapons are retired. The primary function of the surveillance program is to ensure that the remaining stockpiled weapons maintain their integrity over time. Weapons, chosen at random from the stockpile, are dismantled, and each component is tested to ensure that it has not corroded or degraded in a way that would impair its performance. In addition to this routine surveillance of the stockpile, retired weapons are disassembled and their components disposed of as part of the normal workload. Although the weapon design laboratories approved the surveillance dismantlement procedures, which were drawn up at the same time as the production procedures, the laboratories usually were not directly involved in dismantlement of the retired weapons.

• OSTI ID: 7117640
• Journal Information: Energy and Technology Review (Livermore, California); (United States), Journal Name: Energy and Technology Review (Livermore, California); (United States); ISSN 0884-5050
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE
98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL PROTECTION
LAWRENCE LIVERMORE LABORATORY
NUCLEAR WEAPONS
NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT
STORAGE
ARMS CONTROL
SURVEILLANCE
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
US AEC
US DOE
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS
WEAPONS
450200* - Military Technology
Weaponry
& National Defense- Nuclear Explosions & Explosives
350200 - Arms Control- Proliferation- (1987-)