New & Updated
NukeWatch Comments to NNSA on the Complex Transformation SPEIS
Comprehensive Comments [404KB] -April 30, 2008
Watch
in Amazement as:
- Death-defying DOE projects keep rising from the grave!
- Resumed H-bomb production is called disarmament!
- DOE gears its long-term future to policies from year 1 of
the Bush Administration!
- Tired, tapped-out taxpayers foot the bill for unnecessary
programs - and the PR campaign that spins ‘em.
- Giant strides
any direction but forward!!
Full steam ahead into the New Cold War!!
No bombs for the have-nots...
Read a Nuclear
Watch summary: facts, figures and logic that tell the real story [30 MB] – April
9, 2008
Too Much Too Soon, Too Little Too Late!
NNSA’s plan to transform the Nuclear Weapons Complex is a major overhaul based on the Bush Administration’s 2001 Nuclear Posture Review. With a new Administration and a new NPR required by Congress next year it is reasonable that any transformation should be guided by the new agenda, rather than slavishly adhering to the outdated document and the discredited policies of a lame duck Administration. Complex transformation should be tabled, not rushed. The new Complex that NNSA envisions is being promoted with misleading terms like “downsizing,” “arsenal reduction” and “consolidation” which conceal a relentless agenda of increased production capability intended for new weapons designs. NNSA’s “preferred” alternative of downsizing and consolidation does not actually include closure of any plants or site remediation, nor does it realistically address the huge volumes of waste that will result from the new manufacturing emphasis at LANL.
Factsheet on the Risks of Permanent Pit Production Operations at LANL [196] -March 13, 2008
A NukeWatch Rebuttal to NNSA's attempt at spin, “Claim Versus Fact: The Truth about LANL’s Role in Complex Transformation” [152KB] - March 13, 2008
Read our backgrounder on Pit Production at LANL [212 kb] - March 1, 2008
See NukeWatch's "New Policies, Not New Bombs" Powerpoint [9.5 MB] - March 1, 2008
New Mexico Congressmen, Environmental Department
Request Extension of Public Comment Period
Senator Jeff Bingaman and Representative Tom Udall request extension of CT SPEIS public comment period until July 2008.
(DOE/EIS-0236-S4)
[73KB] -March 31, 2008
CT SPEIS Prompts Political Groundswell
NMED objects to details in DOE plans for Complex Transformation at LANL. NMED Comments [120KB] –March 27, 2008
New Mexico Environment Secretary takes a position on Department of Energy’s Plans for Expanded Pit Production at Los Alamos. NMED: Lab Must Clean Up Legacy Waste before Embarking on New Missions. – March 13, 2008
Mayor Maestas of Espanola says it’s time to reassess the role of nuclear weapons as the primary means for addressing our national security needs. [64KB] – March 1, 2008
City of Santa Fe passes resolution opposing expanded pit production activities at LANL. [1.1MB] – February 13, 2008
Write Comments on the Proposed Bomplex Transformation
Submit written comments to complextransformation@nnsa.doe.gov by April 10.
As an aid to commenters NukeWatch has produced a single, combined PDF of the multiple documents of NNSA's Transformation SPEIS in order to facilitate word searches. It's a fairly large file to download but many have found it useful. [39MB] -January 2008
NNSA has also made the reference documents for the transformation SPEIS available online.
Pantex Plant "Environmental Liabilities" May Top $400 million dollars
Figures just released as the result of a protracted legal battle between Nuclear Watch New Mexico and the DOE show that “Future Environmental Liabilities” at the Pantex Plant are expected to exceed 400 million dollars. The Pantex Plant, near Amarillo, TX, is the NNSA’s site for final assembly and disassembly of nuclear weapons. As part of NNSA’s proposal to “transform” its nuclear weapons complex, Pantex plans to increase bomb production rates. Its officials have never been candid with the community about the true costs of environmental mismanagement. Decades of so-called cleanup may not resolve the problems. We will likely have to live with the consequences of increasing nuclear weapons activities at Pantex for generations.
Joint Peace Farm / NukeWatch Press Release [120KB] –February 13, 2008
Relevant pages of the FY 2006 Pantex Plant Ten-Year Comprehensive Site Plan [64KB]
NNSA FY09 Nuclear Weapons Budget Request
In the Nuclear Watch analysis: Total NNSA nuclear weapons costs are ~$340 million higher than advertised in “Total Weapons Activities” because NNSA fails to include headquatrters costs. For FY09 the cost is just under $7 billion. For FY09 39% of NNSA's requested weapons activities budget would be spent in New Mexico. In what has the potential to become a showdown, NNSA is seeking additional funding for RRW through the Advanced Certification Campaign in spite of the fact that in FY08 Congress deleted all funding for RRW.
The complete NukeWatch tabulation [112KB] -February 5, 2008
Nuclear Watch Requests a Revised Draft Permit for Hazardous Waste at LANL
In August of 2007 the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) issued a draft permit for the handling and disposal of solid wastes at the Los Alamos National Laboratory. Under the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) the State has authority over “hazardous” (chemical) wastes and similar wastes mixed with radioactive wastes, but not over radioactive wastes alone (however, most radioactive wastes at LANL are mixed). Nuclear Watch New Mexico opposes the draft Permit as currently formulated for the reasons described in comments below. We request that NMED withdraw this draft and prepare a revision that addresses our concerns and those of others. A new public comment period should then follow the release of a revised draft permit. Nuclear Watch also requests a public hearing on the draft LANL RCRA permit, whether or not NMED issues a revision.
Nuclear Watch comments on the draft permit [588KB] –February 1, 2008
NMED Announcement -August 27, 2007
NMED Fact Sheet on RCRA Permit -August, 2007
Full text of RCRA Permit -August 27, 2007
Final Order on Consent -November 26, 2002 (This Order from NMED contains the investigation and cleanup, or corrective action requirements, for Los Alamos National Laboratory)
Unneeded Plutonium Pit Production at Los Alamos For More Than Twice the Price
Even as this country faces a seriously troubled economy, estimated costs for producing new, unneeded plutonium pits are rapidly rising at the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). NNSA has recently released a “Complex Transformation” plan, which designates LANL as its preferred permanent pit production site at a rate of 50 to 80 pits per year. A key supporting document for the plan estimates that the construction costs for Los Alamos’ new plutonium facility, ponderously known as the Chemistry and Metallurgy Research Replacement (CMRR) project, are more than double original projections. Without CMRR, the transformation plan estimates that LANL’s maximum production capacity will remain limited to 20 pits per year. In reality, few, if any, plutonium pits need to be produced. CMRR is a huge, unnecessary money pit. It wastes scarce resources when other urgent national security priorities cry out to be met, and sets in stone the dangerous lame duck policies of the present administration.
NukeWatch press release [112Kb] –January 31, 2008
Comments on the Kansas City Plant Environmental Assessment
Nuclear Watch asserts that NNSA/GSA should withdraw this environmental assessment. NNSA should consider and decide upon the fate of the Kansas City Plant through its current Transformation Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement process. However, even that process should await the outcome of pending review of U.S. nuclear weapons policies, which could dramatically reduce the size and nature of the nuclear weapons stockpile. That, in turn, could dramatically reduce NNSA’s claimed need for expansive capabilities, eight individual sites, and their respective workloads. At this point, KCP’s long-range workload is currently unknown, especially given recent Congressional rejection of new-design nuclear weapons under the so-called Reliable Replacement Warhead Program.
Nuclear Watch New Mexico's additional comments [107KB] -January 31, 2008
Nuclear Watch New Mexico’s comprehensive comments [300KB] –January 14, 2008
NukeWatch Power Point on the KCP EA [1.7MB] - January 07, 2008
More information on the Kansas City Plant
Comments on “Government in the Sunshine Act”
Nuclear Watch submits comments as a follow-up to the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board’s December 5, 2007 "Government in the Sunshine Act" public hearing. The public is much safer today because the Board takes its charge of providing advice and recommendations to the Secretary of Energy at DOE's defense nuclear facilities so seriously. But, concerning LANL, there is still a long way to go. The longest standing systemic issues at LANL are its inability to do anything on time and the endless promulgation of initiatives, systems, and studies to address issues instead of just getting to work and fixing the problems. It seems that the Lab feels obligated to reinvent a process wheel every time that a real solution is needed.
Read NukeWatch's full comments [152KB] –January 4, 2008
LANL Named Preferred Permanent Plutonium Pit Production Center
Santa Fe, NM – The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) officially chose Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) as the “preferred alternative” to be the nation’s permanent plutonium pit production site. The head of NNSA, the semi-autonomous nuclear weapons agency within the Department of Energy, laid out the agency’s vision for the future of US nuclear weapons production, research, and testing. This vision, “Complex Transformation”, was formerly known as “Complex 2030”.
Nuclear Watch Press Release [144kb] –December 18, 2007
NNSA Summary of the Complex Transformation –December 18, 2007
Public hearings in New Mexico on NNSA’s “transformation” plan will be held at:
Socorro- Macey Center (at New Mexico Tech), 801 Leroy Place, Socorro, NM, Monday, March 10, 2008 (6 pm - 10 pm)
Albuquerque- Albuquerque Convention Center, 401 2nd St NW, Albuquerque, NM, Tuesday, March 11, 2008 (11 am - 3 pm and 6 pm - 10 pm)
Los Alamos- Hilltop House, Los Alamos, NM, Thursday, March 13, 2008 (11 am -3 pm)
Santa Fe- Genoveva Chavez Community Center, 3221 Rodeo Road, Santa Fe, NM, Thursday, March 13, 2008 (6 pm - 10 pm
Comment on Remedy for Waste in Unlined Shafts at LANL
The New Mexico Environmental Department intends to select a remedy for the material disposal area (MDA) H at Los Alamos National Laboratory. MDA H consists of nine disposal shafts used by Los Alamos from 1960 to 1986 and which contain various hazardous chemicals, radionuclide-contaminated materials and materials contaminated with high explosives. To be considered are five corrective measure alternatives, three for containment and two for removal. This waste, which is perched in unlined shafts above the area’s sole aquifer and the Rio Grande, should be removed. Comments and requests for public hearing may be submitted to NMED by 5PM, February 4, 2007.
Requests for additional information and comments on LANL Remedy Selection for MDA-H may be submitted to:
John E. Kieling, Program Manager
Hazardous Waste Bureau- NMED
2905 Rodeo Park Drive, East, Building 1
Santa Fe, NM 8705-6303
john.kieling@state.nm.us
Federal Judge Rules DOE Makes a “Mockery” of Freedom of Information
A recent decision in federal court ruled that Department of Energy (DOE) demonstrated a pattern and practice of unlawfully withholding records from Nuclear Watch New Mexico. This ruling is a result of an action brought under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), to compel the release of agency records long withheld from NukeWatch.
The purpose of FOIA is to allow citizens to learn what their government is doing and how it is being done. Once a citizen has requested documents pursuant to FOIA, the governmental agency involved has 20 days to comply or notify the party making the request of a denial. NukeWatch received its first response more than 17 months after the initial FOIA request. United States District Judge, Bruce D. Black, stated, “This makes a mockery of the 20-day target set by the Act and violates congressional intent.”
NukeWatch Press Release [140kb] – September 26, 2007
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT ORDER GRANTING SUMMARY JUDGMENT ON STATUTORY COMPLIANCE [104kb] – September 19, 2007
Nuclear Watch's amended complaint alleging a "pattern and practice of unlawfully withholding agency records" [32kb] -July 30, 2006
NukeWatch Argues for a Programmatic EIS and consideration of Hardened On-Site Storage for Greater Than Class C (GTCC) Waste Disposal
After 20 years of essentially ignoring “Greater Than Class C” waste the Department of Energy’s EIS proposes to evaluate potential alternatives involving various disposal methods at several DOE and generic commercial sites. DOE should broaden the scope of this EIS to a Programmatic EIS, thereby fulfilling DOE's obligations under the National Environmental Policy Act's (NEPA’s) Rules and Regulations. We contend that disposal of GTCC waste is a “program,” defined by DOE under its NEPA regulations as systematic and connected agency decisions allocating agency resources to implement a specific statutory program or executive directive. The federal government is responsible for the disposal of any low-level radioactive waste with concentrations of radionuclides that exceed the limit established by the Commission for Class C Waste, as per Section 61.55 of Title 10, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). Therefore the statute-driven nature of the DOE GTCC waste disposal proposal is evident.
Nuclear Watch New Mexico’s scoping comments on the GTCC EIS [184kb] -September 21, 2007
Fact sheet on Greater Than Class C waste and Hardened On-site Storage [136KB] –August 3, 2007
Alliance for Nuclear Accountability GTCC page with Resources for Public Comments on the GTCC Disposal Environmental Impact Statement.
Nuclear Weapons Activities over 65% of LANL's 2008 Budget Request
Nuclear Watch analysis of the Lab’s budget request is based on a total budget of $2.1 billion, which includes an estimated $260 million in “Work for Others.” As the chart linked below shows, Nuclear Weapons activities account for 65.8% of the total budget.
LANL FY08 Budget Request [188 KB] –July 19, 2007
Divine Strake By Another Name:
Nuclear Weapons Effects Tests at White Sands
In February 2007, a branch of the Department of Defense called the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) caved in to intense public and congressional pressure and canceled its proposed “Divine Strake” nuclear weapons effects test at the Nevada Test Site. However, the very next month the agency declared in a “Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) for DTRA Activities on White Sands Missile Range” that it would conduct an unspecified number of “Hard Target Defeat Tests” in New Mexico. These tests are referred to in the PEIS as “500-ton Equivalent Tests,” and are remarkably similar to the yield and mission of the now infamous Divine Strake Test.
Factsheet on 500-ton Tests at WSMR [352KB] -July 27, 2007
Los Alamos to “Celebrate” First Certified Plutonium Trigger For Nuclear Weapons
Santa Fe, NM - The Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) has invited Members of Congress to “celebrate” on July 2 its production of its first certified plutonium trigger (AKA “pit” or “primary”) for the W88, a sub-launched nuclear weapon. This will be the first plutonium pit produced by the U.S. certified for deployment to the nuclear stockpile since 1989. Instead of prioritizing real national security threats like global climate change and the proliferation of nuclear weapons LANL has finally produced its first certified pit, with total cumulative campaign and facilities costs of around $2.2 billion.
In contrast, there is growing Congressional and public sentiment that Lab missions should be changed to tackle contemporary national security threats and the energy challenges facing the U.S. and the world. Also on July 2 at a counter-event, advocates for these changes will discuss their proposals, while a highly experienced retired nuclear weapons designer will comment on the present reliable status of the U.S. stockpile.
Nuclear Watch Fact Sheet- LANL’s First “Certified” Plutonium Pit: Unnecessary, Provocative, Behind Schedule and Over Budget [160KB] -July 2, 2007
July 2, 2007 Albuquerque's KRQE TV News story and video.
Santa Fe New Mexican Editoral - LANL celebrates ‘pit,’ needs fresh mission -July 2, 2007
Joint PSR/Nuclear Watch advertisement published in the Santa Fe New Mexican encouraging a change of missions at LANL [916KB] -July 2, 2007
Details for Physicians for Social Responsibility and Nuclear Watch counter-event [152KB] -June 29, 2007
Nuclear Watch op-ed in Albuquerque Journal North on alternative missions for the Lab [836KB] -June 24, 2007
For Nuclear Watch original disclosure of this "Celebration" please see Nuclear Watch Press Release [228KB] -June 7, 2007
Composite Diagram of LANL's Expanding Plutonium Complex [176KB] -January 17, 2007
LANS Board Members Allegedly Involved in Breach of National Security
June 14, 2007- Time magazine reported today that yet another serious security breach occurred in association with Los Alamos National Lab. Reportedly a “IMI-1” violation, the most serious breach of national security, occurred in January when board members of the company that manages the lab, Los Alamos National Security, LLC (LANS) sent an email with highly classified information about the composition of U.S. nuclear weapons via unsecured networks. The incident is particularly embarrassing for the Lab after a string of high-profile security lapses. Energy Secretary Bodman, Deputy Secretary Clay Sell and Lab director Michael Anastasio have all given testimony to Congress on security at the Lab, but reportedly failed to mention the January IMI-1 incident.
For more on the "Leaky Lab" (Time Magazine)
Update on FY2008 Budget Numbers for Nuclear Weapons Programs
Congress has been whacking away at the Department of Energy's nuclear weapons programs in various and differing budget categories. See our compilation of the DOE fiscal year 2008 budget request and what the House and Senate Armed Services and Appropriations Committees have marked up to date.
FY08 Nuclear Weapons Budget [188 KB] -June 14, 2007
Global Nuclear Energy Partnership - the Bush Administration’s Plan for the so-called Nuclear Renaissance
Under the ruse of reducing greenhouse emissions the administration and nuclear power industry are trying to kick-start a new round of expensive nuclear power plants and nuclear fuel reprocessing facilities. Sites contaminated from previous attempts at reprocessing have still not been adequately cleaned up and are some of the most dangerously polluted sites in the world. This proposal would top that by making the GNEP reprocessing site the single largest lethal source of radiation in the country, if not the world. Further, if Los Alamos National Lab plays a role as the research facility for this program, as much as 100 metric tons of “hot” radioactive fuel rods could be shipped to New Mexico for use in developing the process.
Nuclear Watch Comments on the scope of the GNEP Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement [272KB] –June 4, 2007
The DOE GNEP Page
House Moves to Stop the Administration's Plans for New Nukes
U.S. House of Representatives Appropriations Subcomittee Zeroes Out RRW and the Proposed Consolidated Plutonium Center.
May 23, 2007- The House Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee did their part to kill the 2008 budget for the Reliable Replacement Warhead (RRW), the new nuclear weapon being designed at Lawrence Livermore Lab. Funding was also dropped from the marked-up Appropriations Bill for the new Consolidated Plutonium Center, which had been proposed as part of the “Complex 2030” transformation of the nuclear weapons complex. In a statement today, Committee Chairman Peter Visclosky (D-IN) called for the development of a comprehensive nuclear defense strategy and for downsizing the nuclear weapons complex. He added, “Until progress is made on this critical issue, there will be no new facilities or Reliable Replacement Warhead.”
NukeWatch Comments on Livermore Biolab Revised Environmental Assessment
Nuclear Watch New Mexico submits comments on the Draft Revised Environmental Assessment (EA) for The Proposed Biological Safety Level (BSL)-3 Laboratory at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) (DOE/EA-1442R). This revised Environmental Assessment, which is DOE’s first NEPA document that responds to the Ninth Circuit Order and new DOE guidance on the need to consider intentional destructive acts in NEPA documents, does a miserable job of analyzing these acts. We respectfully suggest that DOE could possibly save itself considerable trouble in the future by correcting the deficiencies in this revised EA so that it can be a useful model for future analyses.
Full comments on the Draft Revised EA [340 KB] –May 11, 2007
Legislation May Aid Cold War Veterans Seeking Compensation
U.S. Representative Tom Udall (D-N.M.) is leading a bipartisan group to introduce legislation that will extend the life and expand the reach of the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act (EEOICPA)Ombudsman, a federal office created to aid sick cold war veterans in making claims for compensation. In Udall’s district is Los Alamos National Laboratory where hundreds of workers may be eligible for compensation after developing radiogenic cancers and other illnesses.
Representative Tom Udall’s News Release [30KB] –May 9, 2007
DOE Misses Opportunity to Move Livermore Lab from Developing H-bombs to "World Class Center for Civilian Science"
May 8, 2007 - The decision to award management of the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) to the University of California and Bechtel, essentially the same consortium recently selected to manage the Los Alamos nuclear weapons lab, demonstrates the failure of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to conduct a fair and open, competitive bidding process, according to groups that sought to transform LLNL into a premier environmental research facility. The Livermore Lab GREEN (Green Renewable Energy and Environmental Nexus), LLC consisted of two nuclear "watchdog" organizations, Tri-Valley CAREs and Nuclear Watch of New Mexico, partnered with an academic institution, New College of California, and a green energy company, WindMiller Energy.
DOE arbitrarily eliminated the GREEN, LLC bid from consideration earlier in the process. Instead the management contract goes to essentially the same consortium, with the University of California and Bechtel at the helm that has taken a bad management situation at Los Alamos and made it much worse.
NNSA Backs Off of Interim Operations at Biolab
The NNSA has responded to a letter from Nuclear Watch of New Mexico demanding that no work should take place at the LANL BSL-3 facility until a legally adequate Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) has been completed. NNSA’s response states that work requiring BSL protocols will not commence until completion of National Envionmental Policy Act (NEPA) process and issuance of a Record of Decision.
Nuclear Watch press release on NNSA's response [112KB] -May 2, 2007
NNSA response letter [212KB] -May 1, 2007
Nuclear Watch biolab press release [490KB] -March 28, 2007
Nuclear Watch’s letter to NNSA [127KB] -March 28, 2007
NNSA Notice of Intent -November 29, 2005
National Nuclear Security Agency Picks A Design For The First New Nuclear Weapon In 20 Years
March 2, 2007- The Bush administration announced that Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory was the winner of the nuclear weapon design competition with the Los Alamos lab over the plans for a Reliable Replacement Warhead (RRW). The National Defense Authorization Act of FY2006 defined the objectives for the RRW program as intended to increase the reliability, safety and security of the U. S. nuclear weapons stockpile and reduce the likelihood of the resumption of underground testing. If the President and Congress agree to authorize this potentially expensive program, then eventually all of the U. S. nuclear warheads will be replaced with new designs. However, key members of Congress have voiced opposition to the program and it’s priorities. Congressman Pete Visclosky (D-Indiana), Chairman of the House subcommittee for nuclear weapons funding released a statement on March 2, 2007 saying, “This announcement puts the cart before the horse. …there appears to have been little thought given to the question of why the United States needs to build new nuclear warheads at this time.” In a concurrent statement Representative Tom Udall (D-New Mexico) said, "I am concerned how this new weapon affects our obligations under the nuclear nonproliferation treaty, because we need to be reducing the number of weapons, not creating new ones." Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-California) declared, “There is a long history of this Administration seeking to reopen the nuclear door, and I am 100 percent opposed to this.”
NukeWatch’s rebuttal to “Myths vs. Facts” about RRW [596KB] –March 2, 2007
National Nuclear Security Agency RRW press release –March 2, 2007
Legal Challenges and Public Pressure Successfully Stop Divine Strake!
The Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) announced today that a decision has been made to cancel the proposed Divine Strake experiment. Stating that, “…it’s time to look at alternative methods that obviate the need for this type of large-scale test.” James Tegnelia, DTRA Director, announced the termination of the plan that has aroused brisk public opposition. Originally scheduled to take place in June of 2006 the test has been repeatedly delayed and has faced serious challenges on legal and environmental issues. Activists, State Legislators and concerned citizens can claim a victory for nuclear nonproliferation, safety for downwinders and for indigenous rights.
DTRA Press Release on the Cancellation of Divine Strake – February 22, 2007
NukeWatch Comments on the Divine Strake EA [516KB] –February 7, 2007
For background on the test and protests see the NukeWatch/Citizen Action documentary videos at the NukeWatch TV links in the left pane.
Nuclear Watch Analysis of the FY2008 Federal Budget Request
The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) is proceeding willy-nilly with the Reliable Replacement Warhead (RRW). NNSA is essentially trading in our already extensively tested nuclear weapons stockpile for future untested designs, in order to meet unspecified “emerging threats” without explaining why existing nuclear weapons could not meet them. Any discussion or analysis of how new-design U.S. nuclear weapons and resumed industrial-scale production could provide a negative non-proliferation example to the world is entirely absent. In contrast, RRW permeates the entire NNSA Fiscal Year 2008 Congressional Budget Request for nuclear weapons.
NNSA Weapons FY08 Funding [520KB] –February 9, 2007
NNSA Nuclear Weapons Funding by Individual Site [508KB]–February 9, 2007
FY08 NNSA Congressional Budget Request for Nuclear Weapons, Volume 1
Scoping Comments to the NNSA on the Complex 2030 Supplemental Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (SPEIS)
A serious re-examination of whether present and future U.S. nuclear weapons policies are in the best interests of national and international security is needed now. We argue that the National Nuclear Security Administration’s (NNSA’s) Complex 2030 proposal miserably fails that test. This SPEIS is an obviously prejudicial process aimed at ensuring the department's preferred outcome. The NNSA’s three alternatives, even the so-called No Action and Reduced Operations Alternatives, all expand nuclear weapons design and production. Moreover, there are continually shifting NNSA justifications for its purportedly needed Complex 2030. If the first rationale doesn’t get Congressional and public buy in, then NNSA will come up with another rationale to support the preferred outcome! This shiftiness reminds us of the Groucho Marx saying, “If you don’t like my principles, wait a minute, I got others!”
Read the full text of NukeWatch Scoping Comments [1.7MB] – January 17, 2007
NukeWatch Bomplex Scoping Meeting Presentation [1.8MB] - December 6, 2006
The Notice of Intent calls for a baseline capacity of producing 125 plutonium pit “triggers” per year and at the same time cancels the previously proposed Modern Pit Facility
Independent Review Confirms Plutonium Pits Last A Century - Rationales for Future Nuclear Weapons Complex and New Designs Seriously Undermined
Santa Fe, NM – A report delivered November 28, 2006 to Congress by a group of eminent scientists concludes: Most primary types have credible minimum lifetimes in excess of 100 years as regards aging of plutonium; those with assessed minimum lifetimes of 100 years or less have clear mitigation paths that are proposed and/or being implemented.
NukeWatch Press Release [140KB] -November 29, 2006
Plutonium Pit Lifetime Report [404KB] -November 28, 2006
Longer Lives Seen for Nukes -Albuquerque Journal North, November 30, 2006
Oldest U.S. Nuclear Weapons in Planned Stockpile Are Up to Seven Decades Younger than Expected Lifetimes
The oldest U.S. nuclear warheads have up to 70 years left until they need to be retired. Taking into account established nuclear weapons ages, future warhead retirements, and expected predictions of pit lifetimes that approach 100 years, new-design nuclear weapons and new production facilities will waste money and threaten nonproliferation. Time now for a thorough and well-informed discussion of U.S. nuclear weapons policy.
The Ages of U. S. Nuclear Weapons [360kb] -December 6, 2006
Doubts cast on need for new nukes -San Francisco Chronicle, November 15, 2006
Analyses of DOE Environmental Management - Economic and Environmental Issues in New Mexico
In April 2003, Nuclear Watch of New Mexico (NukeWatch) was funded by the Citizens’Monitoring and Technical Assessment (MTA) Fund to conduct “Analyses of Department of Energy Environmental Management: Economic and Environmental Issues in New Mexico.” Our report on these issues is available for download below.
Economic and Environmental Issues in New Mexico [4.2MB] -December 2006
Inside Briefing Summary Indicates LANL Security Breach Very Serious
Santa Fe - Nuclear Watch New Mexico has received a summary of an inside briefing at the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) on the status of the Lab’s latest security infraction. If true, this summary indicates that a very serious and compromising breach has occurred; perhaps the most serious in LANL’s long line of security breaches. While its author is unknown, the precision of detail and obvious inside knowledge shown in the summary is striking.
Full Press Release from NukeWatch [124kb] - November 2, 2006
LANL Inside Briefing Summary [64kb] - date and author unknown
A Bland Assurance from the Lab [34kb] - November 3, 2006
COURT GRANTS DEMAND FOR ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
BEFORE BIOWARFARE AGENT RESEARCH FACILITY OPENS AT LIVERMORE LAB
San Francisco – The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a ruling October 17, 2006, holding an Energy Dept. environmental study inadequate and thereby halting Energy’s impending plans to operate the first advanced biowarfare agent research facility inside a US nuclear weapons lab. This decision follows three years of litigation and public outcry against the planned operation of the dangerous facility. Plaintiffs, Livermore Lab watchdog group Tri-Valley CAREs and Los Alamos watchdog group Nuclear Watch of New Mexico as well as other individuals, demanded that the Energy Dept. conduct a thorough study of the project’s potential environmental impacts, including possible terrorist threats to the facility.
Press Release [196kb] - October 17, 2006
Comments to the National Nuclear Security Administration
On the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for
Continued Operation of the Los Alamos National Laboratory
Nuclear Watch New Mexico submits these final comments (linked below) to the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) on the Draft “Site-Wide Environmental Impact Statement for Continued Operation of the Los Alamos National Laboratory”. As explained in our section on the inadequacy of the SWEIS process itself, we strongly believe that NNSA has failed both procedurally and substantively, which includes the following:
• Once a decision was made to dramatically expand plutonium pit production a new Notice of Intent should have been issued, thereby triggering a new round of required public scoping comment on this absolutely central issue that was absent in the previous scoping process;
• An inadequate comment period for the DSWEIS, which required the public to review and comment on some
30,000 pages of crucial reference documents that NNSA did not make easily available;
• Incomplete, outdated, or totally absent reference documents; and
• What we believe to be a willful attempt to avoid the “hard look” that the National Environmental Policy Act requires, including woefully inadequate discussion of “Purpose and Need” that intentionally avoided discussion of the programs that are driving NNSA’s proclaimed need for expanded plutonium pit production to begin with.
NWNM Comments [600KB] -September 26, 2006
NUKEWATCH PUTS LOS ALAMOS LAB ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REFERENCE DOCUMENTS ONLINE;
NUCLEAR WEAPONS LAB REFUSED TO POST BACKGROUND FOR PLUTONIUM EXPANSION PLANS
August 23, 2006, Nuclear Watch New Mexico is providing access to voluminous background documents that the Department of Energy (DOE) is using to justify its proclaimed need for expanded plutonium pit production at the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). To date, the DOE has refused to grant public online access to these documents. The 2006 Site-Wide EIS (SWEIS) has 65 pages of lists of background reference documents that in all comprise an estimated 30,000 pages. LANL historically hides behind security, budget, and time issues as flimsy reasons not to post important public documents such as these on the web where the public could use them to stay informed. Thousands of environmental documents like these are routinely denied online access despite being paid for by taxpayer dollars.
Hyperlinked INDEX to ALL of the downloadable LANL SWEIS Reference Docs (including a Searchable SWEIS) -August 28, 2006
Read our Press Release [136KB] -August 23, 2006
Los Alamos Lab Seeks to Quadruple Plutonium Bomb Pit Production;
New Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Reveals
Related Radioactive Wastes and Plutonium Storage Will Double
Santa Fe, New Mexico – With no public notice, the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), has posted a new draft “Site-Wide Environmental Impact Statement for Continued Operations of Los Alamos National Laboratory” (LANL) on the internet. In it, NNSA states it preferrs to operate LANL at the "highest levels of activity currently foreseeable, including full implementation of the mission assignments.” These include the accelerated production of additional nuclear weapons and new designs.
NukeWatch Press Release [96kb] -June 26, 2006
LANL Draft Site-Wide Environmental Impact Statement -June 23, 2006
Notice of Availability and Public Hearing. National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) Notice of Availability of the Draft Site-Wide Environmental Impact Statement for Continued Operation of Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM
U.S. Nuclear Weapons Policies and the Kansas City Plant
Kansas City, Missouri- Experienced watchdog activist, Jay Coghlan spoke on July 25, 2006 about U.S. weapons policies and how the Kansas City Plant manufactures 85% of the components of U. S. nuclear weapons.
Download the Power Point presentation [228 kb] -July 25, 2006
Domenici’s Appropriations Committee “Skeptical” Plutonium Pit Production Could Be Anywhere But Los Alamos;
Orders Study of “Expanded Mission” at Key New Lab Facility
Santa Fe, New Mexico – The Senate Subcommittee for Energy and Water Development Appropriations, chaired by New Mexico’s Pete Domenici, has recently fully funded the construction of a new plutonium facility at Los Alamos called the Chemistry and Metallurgy Research Replacement Project (CMRR). The Subcommittee required completion of a report on changes to the CMRR facility in order to accomodate an expanded mission scope.
NukeWatch Press Release [140kb] -July 11, 2006
U.S. Postal Service Cancels Hidden “Arrangement” to Fund Construction of New Los Alamos Science Complex
Santa Fe, New Mexico – The United States Postal Service (USPS) has terminated a plan to fund construction of a new “Science Complex” at Los Alamos Nuclear Lab. The mission of the 400,000 square foot Complex would have been to “Support [nuclear weapons] Stockpile Stewardship’s related and applied scientific research.” Groundbreaking was to begin early next year, but construction funding for the Complex was “off budget” in the sense that it is not included in the Department of Energy’s $6.4 billion annual nuclear weapons budget.
Nuclear Watch of New Mexico exposed the project after discovering it in documents obtained through a federal Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit. Late Friday, the Postal Service issued a news release, announcing “We have decided not to go forward with this arrangement and we have notified the Department of Energy to that effect.”
NukeWatch Press Release [108 kb] -June 26, 2006
USPS News Release -June 23, 2006
LANL Goes Postal!
Read about the US Postal Service's special delivery of construction funding to Los Alamos National Laboratory in:
NukeWatch’s Press Release [144 kb] -June 21, 2006
Selected pages relevant to the Science Complex from Los Alamos’ FY05 & FY06 Ten Year Comprehensive Site Plans [704 kb]
The Lab says: "Los Alamos Science Complex: Alternative Financing for non-directly funded, critically needed facilities - Support [nuclear weapons] Stockpile Stewardship's related basic and applied scientific research." (single slide)
Complete LANL presentation on the Science Complex [6M]
NukeWatch rebuttal to LANL spokesperson Roark's statements to Albuquerque Journal on June 22, 2006 [120kb] -June 22, 2006
House Appropriations Axes “Irrational” Plutonium Lab at Los Alamos
Watchdogs Call on Domenici to Drop Radioactive Pork
Santa Fe, NM –In a stunning move, the congressional House Subcommittee for Energy and Water Development Appropriations cut Fiscal Year 2007 construction funding for the Chemistry and Metallurgy Research Replacement Project at the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). The cut is from the requested $112,422,000 to $12,422,000. The old Chemistry and Metallurgy Research Building, built in the middle 1950s, is highly contaminated and is being abandoned for nuclear weapons-grade plutonium work because of prohibitive costs to seismically upgrade it. The new CMRR project, essentially an advanced plutonium lab, would be physically linked to LANL’s facility for production of plutonium pits (or nuclear weapons “triggers”), and in direct support of that expanding mission.
Listen to The NukeWatch Report on the CMRR facility [2.3MB-mp3] -June12, 2006 Press Release -[114KB] -May 17, 2006
CMRR Fact Sheet - [172KB] -June 9, 2006 Help Stop LANL's New Plutonium Facility (CMRR). Write a letter to Senator Domenici!
See a sample letter [in RTF] -May1, 2006
New Los Alamos Contractor To Receive Larger Fees If They Perform Oversight On Themselves Well
Despite significant risk and Los Alamos National Laboratory’s dismal past performance, DOE wants new contractor to fast-track new self-oversight plan. The most dysfunctional weapons’ site is directed to test out a new oversight plan with first new contractor in over 60 years.
Read the memorandum [115KB]
Eminent Weapons Scientist Challenges Need for RRW
Eminent scientist Richard Garwin challenges the nuclear weapons labs' argument that the Reliable Replacement Warhead is needed.
Read the statement [1.1M] (Courtesy of the Union of Concerned Scientists)
Sandia's Study Acknowledged Long Ago that Nuclear Weapons Don't Wear Out
NukeWatch- Given the push by the Department of Energy for new-design nuclear weapons under the "Reliable Replacement Warhead" program, we think it worthwhile to refer back to a "Stockpile Life Study" done by Sandia National Laboratories in 1993. To quote: "It is clear that, although nuclear weapons age, they do not wear out: they last as long as the nuclear weapons community (DoD and DOE) desires. In fact, we can find no example of a nuclear weapon retirement where age was ever a major factor in the retirement decision." So why new nuclear eapons designs?
Read the study at: Sandia_93_StockpileLife [1.1M]
Watchdog Group Sues to Bring Los Alamos Lab's Hidden Plans into Public View
Santa Fe, New Mexico – Nuclear Watch New Mexico (NukeWatch) filed a lawsuit in the federal District Court of New Mexico to compel the Department ofEnergy to release blacked out information in an unclassified “Ten Year Comprehensive Site Plan” for the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL).
Previous actions, examples of redactions:
LANL BSL-3
Comments on the Needed Scope of an Environmental Impact Statement for Operation of a BioSafety Level-3 Facility at Los Alamos National Laboratory [126KB]-January 17, 2006
Radioactive Pork Report
The Alliance for Nuclear Accountability, a network that Nuke Watch is proudly a member of, released its Radioactive Pork Report.
From the press release:
As House and Senate negotiators begin working out details of the nation's nuclear weapons and nuclear energy spending plan for the coming year, a new report details nearly two billion dollars in programs that its authors say should be cut by budget conferees to enhance national security and protect the environment. Top Ten Department of Energy Radioactive Pork Projects in the 2006 Budget was delivered to Congress today by the Alliance for Nuclear Accountability (ANA), a network of groups from communities near U.S. nuclear weapons facilities
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Watchdog Newsletter
!["Los Alamos Science Complex: Alternative Financing for non-directly funded, critically needed facilities - Support [nuclear weapons] Stockpile Stewardship's related basic and applied scientific research](graphics/LANL-AltFinancing.jpg){kind=link}