National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)

Mum is the word on when shipments of highly enriched uranium (HEU) are scheduled to arrive at the Savannah River Site in South Carolina following a recent federal court decision against environmental groups seeking to block the transports from Canada. “In order to preserve operational security, DOE/NNSA does not comment on planned shipments of nuclear material,” a National […]

Earnings season is ramping up this week for power producers and Department of Energy contractors. Utility Entergy has scheduled its fourth-quarter and full-year 2016 earnings report before the market open on Wednesday. The quarterly conference call is scheduled for 11 a.m. Eastern time. The company, which is advancing through the regulatory process on its $110 million sale […]

The Los Alamos National Laboratory’s nuclear criticality safety program in fiscal 2016 fell short of Department of Energy requirements, but an improvement plan has been established, according to an annual nuclear criticality safety program metrics report submitted to the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board (DNFSB). The DNFSB asked DOE in February 2016 to provide a […]

One of the National Nuclear Security Administration’s nonproliferation technology development programs does not sufficiently track its project outcomes, the Government Accountability Office found in a newly released report. The NNSA’s Office of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation (DNN) implements programs worldwide meant to eliminate and help prevent the spread of sensitive nuclear material. DNN features two programs […]

A joint venture consisting of several New Mexico-headquartered small businesses will support the recently awarded management and operations contract for the Sandia National Laboratories, contractor Sandia Technical Partners (STP) announced Tuesday. The new firm was formed “to enhance small business participation” in the contract, which the National Nuclear Security Administration in December awarded to National […]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has identified a problem with loose bolts used for HVAC ductwork during construction of the Mixed Oxide Fuel Fabrication Facility in South Carolina, sending as a result a notice of violation to project contractor CB&I AREVA MOX Services. The MOX facility is being built to convert 34 metric tons of […]

A pretrial conference has been scheduled for later this month for two men accused of stealing more than $4 million from the federal government while working at the Savannah River Site’s Mixed Oxide Fuel Fabrication Facility (MFFF). In December 2015, the Department of Justice announced the indictment of Aaron Vennefron of Hamilton, Ohio, and Phillip […]

A federal judge has dismissed South Carolina’s claim seeking $100 million for the missed plutonium disposal deadline at the Savannah River Site’s Mixed Oxide Fuel Fabrication Facility (MFFF). U.S. District Judge J. Michelle Childs on Wednesday also sent another request against the Department of Energy – for the removal of 1 metric ton of nuclear […]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has identified a problem with loose bolts used for HVAC ductwork during construction of the Mixed Oxide Fuel Fabrication Facility in South Carolina, sending as a result a notice of violation to project contractor CB&I AREVA MOX Services. The MOX facility is being built to convert 34 metric tons of […]

The Los Alamos National Laboratory’s nuclear criticality safety program in fiscal 2016 fell short of DOE requirements, but a program improvement plan has been established, according to an annual nuclear criticality safety program metrics report submitted to the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board (DNFSB). The DNFSB asked DOE in February 2016 to provide a yearly […]

A joint venture consisting of several New Mexico-headquartered small businesses will support the recently awarded management and operations contract for the Sandia National Laboratories, contractor Sandia Technical Partners (STP) announced Tuesday. The new firm was formed “to enhance small business participation” in the contract, which the National Nuclear Security Administration in December awarded to National […]

A pretrial conference has been scheduled for later this month for two men accused of stealing more than $4 million from the federal government while working at the Savannah River Site’s Mixed Oxide Fuel Fabrication Facility (MFFF). In December 2015, the Department of Justice announced the indictment of Aaron Vennefron of Hamilton, Ohio, and Phillip […]

One of the National Nuclear Security Administration’s nonproliferation technology development programs does not sufficiently track its project outcomes, the Government Accountability Office found in a newly released report. The NNSA’s Office of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation (DNN) implements programs worldwide meant to eliminate and help prevent the spread of sensitive nuclear material. DNN features two programs […]

The Trump administration is reportedly planning a series of federal funding cuts that might result in the redirection of a portion of the Department of Energy budget into the National Nuclear Security Administration’s defense programs. The Hill reported last month that Trump’s transition team staffers have planned major funding reductions for the DOE and other […]

Consolidated Nuclear Security (CNS), the management and operating contractor for the Pantex Plant in Texas and the Y-12 National Security Complex in Tennessee, plans to implement a new “market-driven” compensation system once it receives National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) approval, President and CEO Morgan Smith said Wednesday in a memo to employees. The intention is […]

The National Nuclear Security Administration’s Kansas City National Security Campus in Missouri is marking 2016 as its “best year ever” in safety performance. The NNSA site that produces non-nuclear components used in nuclear weapons said in an emailed statement that despite a 20 percent increase in new employees throughout the year, safety incidents fell by […]

One week into his term, President Donald Trump signed a national security memorandum that calls for rebuilding the U.S. military and requires the development of a new Nuclear Posture Review. The Jan. 27 order directs the development of a National Defense Strategy, encompassing a new Nuclear Posture Review “to ensure that the United States nuclear deterrent is […]

There were no protests against the contract award for management and operation of the Sandia National Laboratories, the National Nuclear Security Administration said this week. The semiautonomous branch of the U.S. Energy Department announced on Dec. 16 that it had awarded the contract to National Technology and Engineering Solutions of Sandia (NTESS), a wholly owned […]

Congressional advocates of the Savannah River Site’s controversial plutonium disposition project, known as MOX, are unfazed by reports that President Donald Trump intends to significantly reduce the Department of Energy budget, saying it’s too early to predict how Trump will handle the project. Multiple news outlets this month reported details of apparent Trump administration plans […]

A federal judge on Thursday ruled against requiring the Department of Energy to produce a new environmental impact statement for shipments of highly enriched uranium from Canada to the agency’s Savannah River Site in South Carolina. The ruling opens the door for shipments to begin as soon as this month. Upward of 150 shipments, totaling […]

Two weeks into President Donald Trump’s first term, Energy Secretary-designate Rick Perry has crept closer to confirmation in the Senate, and the president’s beachhead and transition teams are laying groundwork to bolster the budget for the National Nuclear Security Administration. The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on Tuesday approved Perry’s nomination by a vote […]

There were no protests against the contract award for management and operations of the Sandia National Laboratories, the National Nuclear Security Administration said Wednesday. The semiautonomous branch of the U.S. Energy Department announced on Dec. 16 that it had awarded the contract to National Technology and Engineering Solutions of Sandia (NTESS), a wholly owned subsidiary […]

Consolidated Nuclear Security (CNS), the management and operations contractor for the Pantex Plant in Texas and the Y-12 National Security Complex in Tennessee, plans to implement a new “market-driven” compensation system once it receives National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) approval, President and CEO Morgan Smith said Wednesday in a memo to employees. The intention is […]

A Senate committee on Tuesday voted in favor of Rick Perry becoming the next secretary of energy in a mostly party-line vote, clearing the way for the full Senate to formally approve the former Texas governor to join President Donald Trump’s Cabinet. Five Democrats joined all 12 Republicans on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee […]

The National Nuclear Security Administration’s National Security Campus in Kansas City, Mo., is marking 2016 as its “best year ever” in safety performance. The NNSA site that produces non-nuclear components used in nuclear weapons said in an emailed statement that despite a 20 percent increase in new employees throughout the year, safety incidents fell by […]

Congressional advocates of the Savannah River Site’s controversial plutonium disposition project, known as MOX, are unfazed by reports that President Donald Trump intends to significant reduce the Department of Energy budget, saying it’s too early to predict how Trump will handle the project. Multiple news outlets this month reported details of apparent Trump administration plans […]

National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) Administrator Frank Klotz was asked to stay in his current role just before President Donald Trump’s inauguration last week and will stay on until Trump confirms a replacement for the position. Other top NNSA officials, however, have left the agency. “To help ensure continuity in our critical nuclear security work, […]

The National Nuclear Security Administration has authorized a Honeywell International subsidiary to begin its transition activities to take over management and operations of the Sandia National Laboratories, the company announced Wednesday. The NNSA last month awarded the management and operations contract for Sandia to National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia (NTESS), a wholly owned […]

The Department of Energy should take steps to correct some errors in its classification of national security information – which includes intelligence activities or programs meant to safeguard nuclear materials or facilities – according to a newly released DOE Office of Inspector General report. The IG found none of the 232 national security documents it reviewed […]

Pat Host Defense Daily The woman who President Donald Trump plans to nominate to serve as the next Air Force secretary was subject to an Energy Department inspector general (IG) probe in 2013 that found she earned $450,000 from facility contractors without providing evidence that work was performed. The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) asked […]