Nuclear Weapons & Stockpile

The Metal Trades Council’s rejection of Consolidated Nuclear Security’s “best and final” contract offer has further complicated an already difficult labor situation at the Pantex warhead assembly/disassembly plant, and has put the start of contract negotiations at the Y-12 National Security Complex on hold for the time being.Clarence Rashada, president of the Metal Trades Council, […]

While a Department of Energy annual report for 2014 rated the Y-12 National Security Complex as “meets expectations” for nuclear criticality safety last year, with a decline in the number of infractions from 2013, it appears there are continuing issues with the site’s nuclear safety program. According to recently released reports by Defense Nuclear Facilities […]

Alissa Tabirian NS&D Monitor 8/7/2015 Peace activists are gathering this week at various National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) laboratories to participate in protests and commemorations marking the 70th anniversary of the United States’ atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Events include a remembrance ceremony yesterday organized by the Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance (OREPA) at […]

As is our annual practice, NS&D Monitor is taking a summer publication break and will not publish for the next two weeks. The next regular issue will be on your desk Aug. 28. Subscribers to the Weapons Complex Morning Briefing service will receive editions twice-a-week on a Tuesday/Thursday basis during the break. In addition, we […]

Alissa Tabirian NS&D Monitor 8/7/2015 The National Nuclear Security Administration’s (NNSA) 2015 long-term budget estimate for its nuclear arms modernization programs has increased by $17.6 billion since last year, according to a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report released yesterday. The report says NNSA’s 2015 estimate of $293.4 billion over 25 years represents “an increase of […]

Pantex Union Workers to Vote on Contract Offer Saturday Staff Reports NS&D Monitor 8/7/15 After six months of negotiations, Consolidated Nuclear Security has reportedly made a best-and-final contract offer to the Metal Trades Council at the Pantex nuclear weapons plant. According to a statement released Wednesday by CNS, union workers at Pantex are expected to […]

The 343rd Bomb Squadron at Barksdale AFB on July 28 became the first reserve aircrew to be qualified on the new combat network communications technology (CONECT) modification on the B-52, according to an Aug. 5 Air Force Global Strike Command press release. "As reservists, the 343rd BS having CONECT qualified crews means the squadron is […]

Peace activists are gathering this week at various National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) laboratories to participate in protests and commemorations marking the 70th anniversary of the United States’ atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Events include a remembrance ceremony today organized by the Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance (OREPA) at the entrance to the Y-12 […]

Alissa Tabirian NS&D Monitor 7/31/2015 The U.S. focus on extending the service life of the nation’s existing nuclear arsenal could threaten critical warhead design and development capabilities, John Harvey, former principal deputy assistant to the secretary of defense for nuclear, chemical, and biological defense programs, said on Tuesday. “In order to maintain critical capabilities, nuclear […]

Brian Bradley NS&D Monitor 7/31/2015 The Pentagon’s base funding account could require $500 billion above Budget Control Act (BCA)-permitted funding levels over eight years to comprehensively modernize U.S. nuclear forces and support other key missions, according to a recently released RAND study on national security. “Choices for America in a Turbulent World” outlines an average […]

Brian Bradley  NS&D Monitor  7/31/2015 LA VISTA, Neb.—Deterrence is not limited to nuclear weapons, but conventional arms and ballistic missile defense cannot substitute for the U.S. nuclear triad, a senior Defense Department official said here on Thursday. “Most of you have heard me say too many times that deterrence is not limited solely to nuclear […]

Alissa Tabirian NS&D Monitor 7/31/2015 Ten-year nuclear modernization budget estimates submitted in 2014 by the Department of Energy (DOE) and Department of Defense (DOD), although “generally consistent” with the agencies’ initiatives, omitted $1.6 billion for two DOE activities and lacked transparency in some DOD calculations, according to a Government Accountability Office report released yesterday. In […]

Staff Reports NS&D Monitor 7/31/2015 The Y-12 nuclear weapons plant had 56 reported infractions related to nuclear criticality safety in Fiscal Year 2014, and the Oak Ridge plant received a rating of “meets expectations” in the annual review of nuclear criticality safety programs by the Department of Energy. The number of infractions was down from […]

NS&D Monitor  7/31/2015 IN THE INDUSTRY A former commander of Air Force Materiel Command, retired Gen. Janet Wolfenbarger, has been named to AECOM’s Board of Directors effective Aug. 1, according to an AECOM press release. “It is an honor to welcome General Wolfenbarger to our Board of Directors,” said AECOM Chairman and CEO Michael Burke. […]

The U.S. focus on extending the service life of the nation’s nuclear arsenal could threaten critical warhead design and development capabilities, John Harvey, former principal deputy assistant to the secretary of defense for nuclear, chemical, and biological defense programs, said on Tuesday. “In order to maintain critical capabilities, nuclear designers and engineers must routinely exercise […]

From fiscal 2016 to 2023, the Defense Department base account could require a total of $500 billion above Budget Control Act (BCA)-permitted funding levels to comprehensively modernize U.S. nuclear forces and support other key missions, according to a recently released RAND study on national security. “Choices for America in a Turbulent World” outlines an average […]

Brian Bradley NS&D Monitor 7/24/2015 The Pantex Plant has implemented a new Nuclear Explosive Engineering Procedure and has resumed nuclear-explosive disassembly after an unexpected issue during a lifting operation forced workers to halt dismantlement activities on June 17, Pantex spokesman George Rangel confirmed to NS&D Monitor on Wednesday. A recently released Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety […]

Y-12 Protesters to be Resentenced on Sept. 15 Resentencing for the three Plowshares protesters who turned the nuclear security world upside down with their July 28, 2012, break-in at the Y-12 National Security Complex is set for Sept. 15. Sister Megan Rice, a Catholic nun who was 82 at the time of the protest action, […]

Brian Bradley NS&D Monitor 7/24/2015 Effective Wednesday, Dr. Don Cook has retired from his position as deputy administrator for defense programs at the National Nuclear Security Administration, a position he served in for five years, the Department of Energy branch confirmed this week. “During his time as Deputy Administrator, Dr. Cook has led a number […]

IN NNSA Pantex/Y-12 contractor Consolidated Nuclear Security in March completed the first phase of implementing a pilot software program aimed to help National Nuclear Security Administration facility managers and maintenance managers decide how to best maintain building infrastructure, according to a Tuesday Y-12 press release. The first phase entailed CNS inputting data for mission critical […]

Pantex has implemented a new Nuclear Explosive Engineering Procedure and resumed nuclear explosive disassembly operations after an unexpected issue occurred during a lifting operation, forcing workers to halt dismantlement activities on June 17, Pantex spokesman George Rangel confirmed to Weapons Complex Morning Briefing yesterday. A recently released Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board site representative report […]

Effective today, Dr. Don Cook is retired from his position as Deputy Administrator for Defense Programs at the National Nuclear Security Administration, a position he served in for five years, NNSA confirmed yesterday. “During his time as Deputy Administrator, Dr. Cook has led a number of accomplishments,” NNSA spokeswoman Shelley Laver said in a statement yesterday. […]

Nuclear explosive disassembly operations paused at Pantex on June 17 after an “unexpected condition” was encountered during a “lifting operation with a vacuum fixture,” according to a recently released Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board representative report dated June 19. Because this situation is not addressed by the standard Nuclear Explosive Operating Procedure (NEOP), Y-12/Pantex contractor […]

Alissa Tabirian NS&D Monitor 7/17/2015 The United States should unilaterally reduce its nuclear arsenal without fear of Russia’s nuclear modernization program, according to Greg Thielmann, Senior Fellow at the Arms Control Association. "I also disagree with those . . . who say we cannot now risk much deeper cuts in our current nuclear arsenals," Thielmann […]

Alissa Tabirian NS&D Monitor 7/17/2015 The relationship between the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) and the contractors managing its laboratories must be made stronger to benefit the U.S. nuclear modernization program, according to Thomas D’Agostino, former NNSA administrator. “In order to effectively modernize our infrastructure, we need to have a different type of relationship between […]

Brian Bradley NS&D Monitor 7/17/2015 Nuclear capabilities would be one of three areas of “particular emphasis” for the nominee of the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff if he is confirmed, according to in testimony he submitted in advance of his Tuesday confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee. “If confirmed as […]

Y-12 Lithium Supply Could Run Dry, GAO Says The Y-12 National Security Complex could run out of the purified lithium needed to refurbish nuclear weapons components as early as 2018 if additional actions aren’t taken to replenish the supply of top-grade material, the GAO said in a report released Monday. The GAO report criticized the […]

The United States should unilaterally cut down on its nuclear arsenal without fear of Russia’s nuclear modernization program, according to Greg Thielmann, Senior Fellow at the Arms Control Association. "I also disagree with those . . . who say we cannot now risk much deeper cuts in our current nuclear arsenals," Thielmann said yesterday at […]

The nominee to be the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff yesterday told the Senate Armed Services Committee in testimony submitted before his confirmation hearing that he is “concerned” that completing nuclear modernization in the current budget environment will be “a challenge.” Air Force Gen. Paul Selva, currently commander of U.S. Transportation Command, […]

The Y-12 National Security Complex could run out of the purified lithium needed to refurbish nuclear weapons components as early as 2018 if additional actions aren’t taken to replenish the supply of top-grade material, the Government Accountability Office said in a report released Monday. The GAO report criticized the National Nuclear Security Administration for perhaps […]