NNSA Refocuses Threat Reduction Efforts to Return Nuclear Research Reactor Fuel; Will Consolidate DOEs Threat Reduction Efforts

4/14/2004

From: Jeanne Lopatto of the Department of Energy, 202-586-4940, or Bryan Wilkes of the National Nuclear Security Administration, 202-586-7371

WASHINGTON, April 14 -- Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham today announced the latest effort by the Department of Energy to address the worldwide threat posed by nuclear and radiological materials. The Secretary has directed the Department's National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) to consolidate the U.S. Foreign Research Reactor Spent Nuclear Fuel (FRR SNF) Acceptance Program within its nonproliferation mission. This decision is intended to accelerate and strengthen the Department's efforts to return weapons-usable nuclear materials of U.S.-origin back to the United States.

In his Feb. 11 speech, the President stated that "We will help nations end the use of weapons-grade uranium in research reactors." The FRR SNF Acceptance program, along with NNSA's complementary programs to repatriate Russian-origin research reactor fuel, and to convert foreign and domestic research reactors from the use of high-enriched uranium (HEU) to low- enriched uranium (LEU) through the development of new LEU fuels, directly support and implement this part of the President's nonproliferation agenda.

"This effort will bring together, under one organization with a proven track record in nonproliferation, the Department of Energy's U.S. and Russian fuel return efforts," said Secretary Abraham. "This consolidation will refocus and strengthen our international campaign to deny terrorists opportunities to seize nuclear materials and will also increase our effectiveness in achieving the reduction and eventual elimination of the use of weapons-usable materials in civil commerce worldwide.

"I have instructed the NNSA to develop a threat-based prioritization for materials to be shipped under the Acceptance program; work closely with the Department of State to restructure the current diplomatic strategy in order to encourage full participation in the program; and pursue all efforts to accelerate the timeline and number of shipments of this material back to the United States. I have also instructed the appropriate offices within the Department to initiate actions necessary to extend the U.S. FRR SNF Acceptance Program's fuel acceptance deadline, which will allow us to complete our work to return this U.S.-origin research reactor spent nuclear fuel."

This is just the latest step in the Department's efforts to address the global threat posed by dangerous nuclear and radiological materials. In November 2003, the Secretary established the Nuclear Radiological Threat Reduction Task Force to address the threat posed by high-risk radiological materials, both international and domestic, that could be used in a so- called "dirty bomb." The Secretary has also directed the Department to develop a comprehensive approach to reducing the threat worldwide of high-risk and proliferation-attractive materials.

The Department will assess the funding requirements to accelerate the overall mission of the FRR SNF Acceptance program and will take all appropriate actions to ensure such funds are secured.