NNSA Approves Pantex Request to Resume Work on B61 and W80 after ‘Code Blue’ Halted Ops

The National Nuclear Security Administration Production Office approved Consolidated Nuclear Security proposals to resume work on the B61 and W80 warhead programs after a “code blue” situation at Pantex in May sidelined operations on the programs for weeks, according to a recently released Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board site representative report, dated June 5. The NNSA Production Office (NPO) on June 1 issued two Safety Evaluation Reports (SERs), approving two Justifications for Continued Operations (JCOs) submitted by CNS that outline “compensatory measures” to mitigate electrostatic discharge (ESD) hazard scenarios. An ESD scenario prompted NNSA to declare the “code blue” on May 5, according to another DNFSB site rep report, dated May 29. “The compensatory measures necessary for safe packaging of energetic components in [containers used to package specific explosive components] include additional equipment bonding steps, application of copper tape to sanded areas of exposed metal on container surfaces, and additional stand-off zones,” the June 5 report states. The “code blue” closed two weeks ago, NNSA spokesperson Shelley Laver told Weapons Complex Morning Briefing last month.

 

NPO in the SERs had not directed CNS to meet any additional conditions for approval, according to the report. The SERs expire Dec. 31. Study groups within NNSA’s Nuclear Explosive Safety (NES) Division on June 2-3 determined that “NES standards” and “other NES criteria” had been met, the report states. Pantex officials did not respond to requests for comment yesterday.