PNA, and groups such as NRDC, the Natural Resources Defense Council, have advocated reducing nuclear weapons, and hence nuclear security spending. In fact, a "Cash for Nuclear Clunkers" petition campaign tells Congress-- it's time to spend our tax dollars more wisely.
Now, below, comes a new study from the NNSA -- the National Nuclear Security Agency-- that recommends increasing funds for, of all things, a bigger nuclear weapons complex, known as Y-12. Rather, we need a plan on how to increase our security by funding efforts for non-proliferation and disarmament—not new uranium for new weapons. The same people with the expertise to create new bombs, by the way, can work to make non-proliferation more effective, if we give them the right tools.
Let’s tell Congress and the White House to send the labs back to the drawing boards. Check out the details on an alternative plan from NRDC, at http://www.nrdc.org/nuclear/default.asp.
"New study supports Y-12 production center"
By Frank Munger, posted August 12, 2009, 12:00 a.m.
http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2009/aug/12/new-study-supports-y-12-production-center/
A recently completed study by the National Nuclear Security Administration apparently supports the Bush administration's [previous] push to build a new production facility at the Y-12 nuclear weapons plant in Oak Ridge.
The proposed multibillion-dollar Uranium Processing Facility (UPF) has been a topic of controversy on multiple fronts, with criticism that the facility was designed too big for the nation's future production needs and too expensive to satisfy efforts to control the spending on nuclear defense.
There has been speculation that the Obama administration would come up with a new makeover plan for the nuclear weapons complex, in line with a more aggressive strategy on nonproliferation and arms reduction. But, so far at least, the Obama plan has pretty much mirrored the "transformation" effort started in the Bush administration.
Excerpts:
The Oak Ridge official said the report would be a tool for managers in Washington to make a "risk-informed decision" regarding any potential changes to the UPF project.
Earlier this year, a number of watchdog and advocacy groups, headed by the Natural Resources Defense Council, came out with a study promoting steep cuts in the nuclear weapons arsenal - down to about 500 warheads by 2015 - and consolidating the must-do weapons work to three sites by 2025.
Y-12, under that scenario, would be out of the picture.
That study recommended that UPF (Uranium Processing Facility) be canceled, and that the existing Oak Ridge mission work - as well as the plant's inventory of weapons-grade uranium - be relocated to Los Alamos in New Mexico.
Such a revamping has not met favor in the early months of the Obama administration, and it apparently would require a political mandate that's difficult to achieve, especially at a time when most of the administration's energy is being spent on energy and health care.
Senior writer Frank Munger's blog, "Atomic City Underground," is available online at http://blogs.knoxnews.com/munger/.
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Frank Munger's conclusions are troubling, as they give the impression that some energy/ defense policy officials in the Administration are not focusing needed attention on important decisions that could set the course of US policy for the next ten years or more. Make your voice heard on this critical issue. Go to "Atomic City Underground" above or you can send your own letter or petition to the Congress and White House.
8-18-2009 AddendumThe above article continues a factual error regarding the study cited, titled Transforming the US Strategic Posture and Weapons Complex for Transition to a Nuclear Weapons-Free World. Jay Coghlan, Executive Director of NuclearWatch New Mexico, was a co-author of that study and noted that the study did not recommend that Y-12's inventory of HEU to be moved to Los Alamos. Instead, they recommend a rapidly accelerated downblending of the inventory, except the material needed for their other recommendations including a sharply reduced weapons stockpile down to 500 nuclear weapons and naval propulsion fuel. These recommendations and the complete study can be read at: http://www.nukewatch.org/facts/nwd/TransformingToNuclearFreeWorld_PR.pdf
Your voice matters! Check out Frank Munger's blog linked above and leave a comment with your thoughts. And check out PNA's petition to Congress and the White House--let's make some noise about moving towards a nuclear weapons-free world!
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