With sharp questioning and conflicting reports about the $30 billion lifecycle cost estimate for the Mixed Oxide Fuel Fabrication Facility, National Nuclear Security Administration chief Bruce Held yesterday referred inquiries to an unreleased plutonium disposition alternatives assessment that could come out next week. The study launched last spring and led by Department of Energy Senior Advisor John MacWilliams came up with the $30 billion figure, which has been disputed by contractor officials. Held said at a House Armed Services Committee Hearing yesterday: “We do believe that there are options that are significantly cheaper. We owe it to the committee to get you that report as soon as we possibly can so that we, all together, can make a very good government decision.” He said later in the hearing: “We are hoping to get it out next week.”
NNSA and DOE officials have referred to the unreleased report in several recent Congressional budget hearings when questioned on the MOX figure. Yesterday Held faced questions from Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) on potential issues with alternatives to the plant, especially with regards to an agreement with Russia. “NNSA and the contractor should be working together, because this can be done. The alternatives truly are putting our country at risk,” Wilson said. However, Held emphasized that alternatives may be more cost effective. “We’ve sunk $5 billion into the MOX facility already and the assessment is that we’ve got $25 billion more to go in full lifecycle cost, so the good government decision is there a way to achieve this decision that costs less than $25 billion,” he said.