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 Consolidated Nuclear Security is preparing another NEOP to lay out steps to move forward with disassembly, the report states. Following the pause, Pantex’s acting site representative observed CNS workers deliberate and after CNS decided how to handle the unit, the rep observed production technicians place the unit in a “safe and stable condition,” according to the report. CNS did not respond to a request for comment on whether disassembly operations have resumed.
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