Nuclear Weapons & Stockpile

According to occurrence reports filed by Y-12 National Security Complex contractor Consolidated Nuclear Security in the last couple years, there have been more than 50 “events” in which radioactive debris has been uncovered during site-preparation activities for the multibillion-dollar Uranium Processing Facility. The radioactive discoveries are considered to be legacies of earlier operations at the […]

The Analytical Chemistry Facility at the Y-12 National Security Complex is reportedly in good shape for the near future, thanks to a $10 million, yearlong facelift. The National Nuclear Security Administration said Thursday the project was completed ahead of schedule and according to budget. Building 9995, which houses the plant’s chemistry labs, was built in […]

The National Nuclear Security Administration and its Y-12 site contractor, Consolidated Nuclear Security, are moving forward with infrastructure improvements at two key facilities at the Oak Ridge, Tenn., facility. This is apparently one of the top priorities at Y-12, needed to support efforts to ensure the scaled-back plans for the Uranium Processing Facility keep the […]

President Barack Obama last week announced his intent to nominate Dimitri Kusnezov as deputy administrator for defense programs at the National Nuclear Security Administration. Kusnezov, who has served as NNSA chief scientist since 2010, has worked in several different capacities for the agency since 2001, the White House said in its announcement. Positions Kusnezov held during this time include acting […]

President Barack Obama last week announced his intent to nominate Dimitri Kusnezov as deputy administrator for defense programs at the National Nuclear Security Administration. Kusnezov, who has served as NNSA chief scientist since 2010, has worked in several different capacities for the agency since 2001, the White House said in its announcement. Positions Kusnezov held during this time include acting […]

Two new annual reports released by the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) reaffirm agency milestones in its stockpile and nonproliferation operations and highlight infrastructure investments, the proposed termination of the mixed-oxide (MOX) fuel approach, and departmental reorganizations as recent internal areas of focus. The fiscal 2017 Stockpile Stewardship and Management Plan noted no significant changes […]

Consolidated Nuclear Security (CNS), the contractor that manages and operates the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge, Tenn., is seeking expressions of interest for the replacement of body armor used at the site, according to a recent solicitation posted. Vendors must demonstrate good past performance within the last seven years on similar supply contracts […]

The National Nuclear Security Administration has approved Critical Decision-1 for a new emergency operations center at the Y-12 nuclear weapons plant in Oak Ridge, Tenn. The CD-1 confirmation was contained in a March 4 weekly activity report by Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board staff assigned to Y-12. CD-1 is approval of the selection of alternatives […]

The National Nuclear Security Administration has indicated it plans to name an individual to oversee its lithium operations, an essential part of the work on thermonuclear weapons. In the newly released Stockpile Stewardship and Management Plan, NNSA said a lithium strategic material manager will be named in 2016. The new position would reportedly be similar […]

Consolidated Nuclear Security (CNS), the contractor that manages and operates the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge, Tenn., is seeking expressions of interest for the replacement of body armor used at the site, according to a recent solicitation posted. Vendors must demonstrate good past performance within the last seven years on similar supply contracts […]

The National Nuclear Security Administration on Monday issued its latest planning documents for programs to maintain the U.S. nuclear arsenal and deter the threat of nuclear proliferation and terrorism. The fiscal 2017 Stockpile Stewardship and Management Plan – Biennial Summary Plan addresses the state of the nuclear arsenal, including multiple weapon life-extension programs; “challenges and strategies associated […]

President Barack Obama said Friday that Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump’s suggestion to allow Japan and South Korea to develop their own nuclear weapons demonstrates he “doesn’t know much about foreign policy or nuclear policy or the Korean Peninsula, or the world generally.” In a New York Times interview released late last month, and in televised […]

An excavation contractor working on site preparations for the Uranium Processing Facility in late January accidentally demolished a storm drain line on the west side of the Y-12 nuclear weapons plant in Tennessee, resulting in some activities at the construction site being put on hold for a month or more, according to a Defense Nuclear […]

Consolidated Nuclear Security, the managing contractor at the Y-12 and Pantex nuclear weapons plant, is scrambling to get its funding accounts back in order after a series of events created what has been described as an “imbalance.” Even though CNS is reportedly within its budget and meeting production goals for the National Nuclear Security Administration, […]

An excavation contractor working on site preparations for the Uranium Processing Facility in late January accidentally demolished a storm drain line on the west side of the Y-12 nuclear weapons plant in Tennessee, resulting in some activities at the construction site being put on hold for a month or more, according to a Defense Nuclear […]

Consolidated Nuclear Security, the managing contractor at the Y-12 and Pantex nuclear weapons plant, is scrambling to get its funding accounts back in order after a series of events created what has been described as an “imbalance.” Even though CNS is reportedly within its budget and meeting production goals for the National Nuclear Security Administration, […]

In the fiscal 2017 National Defense Authorization Act, Congress should support modernization of the U.S. nuclear arsenal and reject funding for implementing treaties that provide no strategic benefit for the United States, the conservative Heritage Foundation said in a policy paper this week. “U.S. nuclear weapons and delivery systems are aging and in need of […]

The Y-12 National Security Complex in Tennessee, the nation’s designated Uranium Center of Excellence and primary home for bomb-grade uranium, has once again loaded too much U-235 into a shipment. The newly revealed incident took place in-house at the Oak Ridge facility and involved a sample taken from an operation in the 9212 uranium-processing complex […]

Federal agents assigned to transport nuclear weapons, material, and components for the National Nuclear Security Administration’s (NNSA) Office of Secure Transportation (OST) are not given a time frame for adjudication of their status when temporarily removed from Human Reliability Program (HRP) responsibilities, the Department of Energy (DOE) Inspector General’s Office (IG) found in a report […]

Tennessee is the first state to pass the $2 billion milestone for money and medical care received from the Energy Employees Occupational Illness and Compensation Program. According to the latest figures released March 20, Tennessee residents had received $2,097,435,233 in total compensation and medical bills paid. Most of the Tennessee claimants were former workers – […]

Enduring problems with hazard analysis and control at National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) sites require better contractor and federal oversight to improve workforce compliance with procedures, the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Enterprise Assessments (EA) determined in a new review of work planning and control at six DOE sites. Of those, EA reviewed operations […]

Retired Air Force Gen. Kevin Chilton, former commander of the U.S. Strategic Command, is a member of Consolidated Nuclear Security’s three-member Technical Safety Board. The board’s existence came to public light recently when CNS – the government’s managing contractor at the Y-12 and Pantex nuclear weapons plants – made a reference on its website to […]

Enduring problems with hazard analysis and control at National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) sites require better contractor and federal oversight to improve workforce compliance with procedures, the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Enterprise Assessments determined in a new review of work planning and control at six DOE facilities. Of those, EA reviewed operations and […]

Dan Parsons Defense Daily 3/11/2016 The Defense Department might need $18 billion added to its budget to keep it afloat once the bow wave of nuclear modernization programs crashes ashore in 2021 and beyond, according to the Pentagon’s director of cost assessment and program evaluation (CAPE). The Defense Department is planning for a substantial increase […]

Consolidated Nuclear Security, the managing and operating contractor at the Y-12 and Pantex nuclear weapons plants, is gradually revealing more of its vigorous hiring campaign to meet the challenges of additional work on a compressed time schedule. Michelle Reichert, CNS’ deputy enterprise manager, issued a message to employees at both sites on Wednesday, explaining some […]

The Defense Department might need $18 billion added to its budget to keep it afloat once the bow wave of nuclear modernization programs crashes ashore in 2021 and beyond, according to the Pentagon’s director of cost assessment and program evaluation (CAPE). The Defense Department is planning for a substantial increase in its top-line budget in […]

Consolidated Nuclear Security, the government’s managing contractor for the Y-12 and Pantex sites, is engaged in one of the biggest hiring campaigns of the post-Cold War nuclear weapons complex. The contractor plans to hire about 300 workers over the next three months, according to a 90-day plan released by CEO Morgan Smith, who assumed leadership […]

The National Nuclear Security Administration’s (NNSA) nuclear weapons dismantlement activities may offer benefits – in addition to nonproliferation and arms control – that involve the nuclear enterprise workforce, according to NNSA Administrator Frank Klotz. The agency’s fiscal 2017 budget request includes $69 million to meet Secretary of State John Kerry’s commitment announced last year that […]

DOE Seeking Small Business Teams for Protective Force Services at Nevada Site The Department of Energy (DOE) is seeking a small business or small business-led team, or joint venture sources to perform protective force services at the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS), the Remote Sensing Laboratory, and the North Las Vegas Complex that includes the […]

Consolidated Nuclear Security said this week it has sealed a new collective bargaining agreement with Pantex Plant workers represented by the West Texas Building Trades and Construction Council. The new three-year deal was the result of several weeks of negotiations beginning on Jan. 6, according to the contractor. It went into effect as of Feb. […]