Nuclear weapons : National Nuclear Security Administration's plans for its uranium processing facility should better reflect funding estimates and technology readiness : report to the Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, Committee on Appropriations, U.S. Senate.

Format:

Book

Government document

Author/Creator:

United States. Government Accountability Office

Contributor:

United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Appropriations. Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

United States. National Nuclear Security Administration--Planning.

United States.

United States. National Nuclear Security Administration--Buildings--Finance.

United States. National Nuclear Security Administration.

Uranium enrichment.

Buildings--Finance.

Planning.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (ii, 33 pages)

Other Title:

National Nuclear Security Administration's plans for its uranium processing facility should better reflect funding estimates and technology readiness

Place of Publication:

[Washington, D.C.] : U.S. Govt. Accountability Office, [2010]

Summary:

Built in the 1940s and 1950s, the Y-12 National Security Complex, located in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, is the National Nuclear Security Administration's (NNSA) primary site for enriched uranium activities. Because Y-12 facilities are outdated and deteriorating, NNSA is building a more modern facility--known as the Uranium Processing Facility (UPF). NNSA estimates that the UPF will cost up to $3.5 billion and save over $200 million annually in operations, security, and maintenance costs. NNSA also plans to include more advanced technologies in the UPF to make uranium processing and component production safer. GAO was asked to (1) assess NNSA's estimated cost and schedule for constructing the UPF; (2) determine the extent to which UPF will use new, experimental technologies, and identify resultant risks, if any; and (3) determine the extent to which emerging changes in the nuclear weapons stockpile could affect the UPF project. To conduct this work, GAO reviewed NNSA technology development and planning documents and met with officials from NNSA and the Y-12 plant. GAO is making five recommendations for, among other things, improving the UPF's cost and funding plans, ensuring that new UPF technologies reach optimal levels of maturity prior to critical project decisions, and for improving DOE guidance. NNSA generally agreed with the recommendations.

Notes:

Title from PDF title screen (GAO, viewed May 12, 2011).

"November 2010."

Congressional rept.

Includes bibliographical references.

"GAO-11-103."

OCLC:

713658328

Access Restriction:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE.