NNSA completes third shipment of special nuclear material from the Lab
The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) announced Thursday that it has completed a third shipment of special nuclear material from the Laboratory, reducing high-security material onsite by about 25 percent. The material was moved to the Savannah River Site in South Carolina under high security.
"As we’ve indicated before, we have an accelerated plan to remove special nuclear material from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory," said NNSA Administrator Thomas D’Agostino. "We continue to do this safely and securely and within the timeframe we’ve outlined. I accelerated this project by two years, and we have now reduced our inventory at Livermore by approximately 25 percent. We are well on our way to keeping our commitment to the Livermore community and the nation as a whole."
The shipment is part of NNSA’s plan to remove high-security nuclear material from the Laboratory by 2012. This is the third shipment to leave LLNL since the de-inventory project was initiated.
As part of its Complex Transformation, NNSA plans to consolidate nuclear materials at five sites by 2012, with significantly reduced square footage at those sites by 2017. This will further improve security and reduce security costs and is part of D’Agostino’s overall effort to transform the Cold War era nuclear weapons complex into a 21st century nuclear security enterprise. The latest shipment from LLNL was completed in full compliance with existing safety and environmental laws and procedures.
Materials must be processed to stable forms and repackaged prior to shipment. The original date to remove all high-security material from LLNL, based on equipment capability and capacity, was 2014. D’Agostino asked that this material be removed as early as possible, accelerating the target completion date to 2012. To reach this goal, NNSA is installing extra equipment to increase capacity.
Annual Good Friday protest draws 300
An estimated 300 peace activists gathered at the corner of Vasco and Patterson Pass roads before dawn Friday, March 22, held a brief rally and then marched to the Laboratory’s West Gate. After ceremonial prayers and song, 83 protestors were arrested for blocking a public thoroughfare, were booked and then released.
Closed at about 8 a.m., the West Gate entrance and badge office were reopened shortly after 10:30 a.m. The Laboratory’s Protective Force Division policed the event with support from the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office, California Highway Patrol and the City of Livermore Police Department.
The Livermore READ project is looking for tutors to help adults learn to read. The next tutor training will be Wednesday, April 23, 7-9 p.m. and Saturday, April 26, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Livermore Public Library.
For more information or to register, see the flier or call 373-5507.
