Energy Department Reduces Tritium Processing
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Tom Clements, S.C., 803-834-3084 (land), 803-240-7268 (mobile) Nick Berning, D.C., 202-222-0748
Planning for Nuclear Weapons Reductions, Energy Department Reduces Tritium Processing at South Carolina’s Savannah River Site
COLUMBIA, S.C. — The Department of Energy has taken a step toward reduced processing of tritium for nuclear weapons, which implies that a policy leading to further reductions in the nuclear stockpile is in the works, according to the environmental organization Friends of the Earth. We are pleased that the U.S. Government is reducing tritium production at the Savannah River Site and believe it confirms reductions in the nuclear weapons stockpile are being actively considered by the Obama Administration, said Tom Clements, Southeastern Nuclear Campaign Coordinator for Friends of the Earth. We hope that this move to curtail tritium production is a sign President Obama is serious about taking steps toward rapid elimination of nuclear weapons, as required by the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Reductions in the number of nuclear weapons means less need for tritium, thus less need for operation of the Tritium Extraction Facility at South Carolina’s Savannah River Site. Tritium, which boosts the explosive power of nuclear weapons, is produced in the Watts Bar reactor operated in Tennessee by the Tennessee Valley Authority and shipped in casks for separation at the recently completed Tritium Extraction Facility at the Savannah River Site. As operations at both Watts Bar and the Tritium Extraction Facility result in tritium release into the environment, reduced production means less of that radioactive material escaping. As reflected in a news item from the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board and confirmed by the Energy Department to Friends of the Earth, operation of the tritium processing facility at the Savannah River Site is to be curtailed. (See information below.) The Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board cites a reduction in projected mission requirements as the reason for reducing tritium operations. The Tritium Extraction Facility, located in the H-Area at the Savannah River Site, became operational in 2007 and has gone through a number of start-up problems, according to the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board. Workers at the Savannah River Site separate new tritium for loading into reservoirs in nuclear weapons and also take remove tritium from weapons in order to recharge them with fresh tritium. Tritium has a radioactive half-life of 12.5 years, so its potency degrades rapidly. The Obama Administration, as required by law, will complete a new Nuclear Posture Review around the end of 2009 and it is believed that the new posture review will reflect a need for fewer weapons and thus less tritium. The Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) is due to expire on December 5, 2009, opening the door for a new treaty with Russia for substantial cuts in the nuclear stockpile. Public interest groups are hopeful that a new treaty will require actual dismantlement of large numbers of weapons and not just their storage. According to an April 23 news release from the Department of Defense, The [Nuclear Posture Review] will be conducted in consultation with the Departments of Energy and State. The purpose of the NPR is to establish U.S. nuclear deterrence policy, strategy, and posture for the next five to 10 years and to provide a basis for the negotiation of a follow-on agreement to the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START). This report will be submitted concurrently with the 2010 Quadrennial Defense Review.” The news release goes on to state that The NPR is a legislatively-mandated (National Defense Authorization Act FY08, Sec 1070/Public Law 110-181) comprehensive review of the U.S. nuclear deterrence policy, strategy and force posture for the next five to 10 years. Previous NPRs were conducted in 1994 and 2002. Tritium is produced by irradiating Tritium-Producing Burnable Absorber Rods (TPBARs) in the Watts Bar nuclear reactor, also called the Watts Bar Nuclear Bomb Reactor (WBNBR) as it is a commercial reactor producing nuclear weapons materials. Such production sends a dangerous non-proliferation message to the world, especially to Iran, and production of tritium in Watts bar must cease, according to Friends of the Earth. TVA has applied for a license amendment related to irradiation of more TPBARs per loading cycle in the Watts Bar reactor, which may be related to less than anticipated production levels in each TPBAR. DOE has informed Friends of the Earth that the Tritium Extraction Facility will not be totally closed and that red uced operation of the TEF will save $10 million per year, which is also one of the drivers for the decision. ### Notes: 1. Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board item from a recent weekly report on the Savannah River Site http://www.dnfsb.gov/pub_docs/srs/wr_20090327_sr.pdf DEFENSE NUCLEAR FACILITIES SAFE TY BOARD March 27, 2009 TO: T. J. Dwyer, Technical Director FROM: M. P. Duncan and M. T. Sautman, Site Representatives SUBJECT: Savannah River Site Weekly Report for Week Ending March 27, 2009 Tritium Extraction Facility: A responsive operations strategy has been implemented this year due to a reduction in projected mission requirements. The current extraction schedule is designed to fully operate the facility at least once per year for the next four years to avoid the requirement to perform an Operational Readiness Review per DOE Order 425.1C, Startup and Restart of Nuclear Facilities. Personnel from both H Area New Manufacturing and the Tritium Extraction Facility have been cross trained to operate and maintain both facilities, allowing for a reduction in operations costs. However, in an effort to further reduce costs, NNSA is considering a temporary shutdown of up to ten years. 2. On request, information about tritium production in the Watts Bar Nuclear Bomb Reactor can be provided. 3. DOD news releases announcing start of the 2010 Nuclear Posture Review process, April 23, http://www.defenselink.mil/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=12627