Nuclear Materials: Nuclear Arsenal Reductions Allow Consideration of Tritium Production Options
RCED-93-189
Published: Aug 17, 1993. Publicly Released: Sep 16, 1993.
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Highlights
Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the impact of planned reductions in the nation's nuclear arsenal on the Department of Energy's (DOE) tritium strategy, focusing on: (1) the DOE tritium supply; and (2) available alternatives for meeting tritium requirements.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Energy | The Secretary of Energy should reexamine the DOE tritium strategy with emphasis on contingency planning until a new production source is available. DOE should examine all potential tritium source alternatives, and its goal should be to utilize the most economic and appropriate means for providing a tritium contingency in the short term and midterm if tritium demand increases. In view of its implications for the size of and timing for a new tritium production source, the Secretary should also examine the role and need for the tritium reserve. |
Closed – Implemented
As recommended, DOE reexamined the DOE tritium contingency planning strategy and issued a classified report iterating DOE's current strategy. DOE also reexained the need for a tritium reserve as part of the classified Nuclear Weapons Stockpile Memorandum process.
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Atomic energy defense activitiesDefense contingency planningNuclear engineeringNuclear reactorsNuclear weaponsNuclear weapons plantsProduction engineeringStrategic materialsNuclear materialsConstruction