Plutonium “pit” production would unnecessarily expand the nuclear weapons role of SRS and result in import of plutonium into South Carolina and produce a host of toxic waste streams likely to be dumped on site.
On May 9, 2018, the U.S. House Armed Services Committee is marking up “defense” legislation. The issue of production of plutonium “pits” that go into US nuclear weapons is included in the legislation. The MOX debacle may also be addressed but language is already written into law to terminate that badly bungled project (if certain conditions are met). (webcast linked here)
H.R. 5515—FY19 NATIONAL DEFENSE
AUTHORIZATION BILL
SUBCOMMITTEE ON STRATEGIC
FORCES
“Plutonium Pit Production”
“The committee continues to believe a pit production capability is a national security priority, but seeks clarification on whether and why the 2018 NPR has modified the pit production requirement. Therefore, the committee directs the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretary of Energy and the Commander of U.S. Strategic Command, to submit a report to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives by September 30, 2018, on the annual pit production requirement, including any associated timelines. Such report should include a detailed rationale and justification for any changes to the requirement, the drivers behind the requirement, an assessment of whether the potential to reuse pits affects the requirement, and associated costs.”