Department of Energy FY 2012 Congressional ... - The FIRE Place

(dollars in thousands)
FY 2010
Actual
Approp
FY 2011
Request
FY 2012
Request
• Nevada National Security Site (NNSS) 79,326 80,077 97,559
The RTBF Operations of Facilities at NNSS provides core capabilities in support of the nuclear
security enterprise, including: Security Category I/II Special Nuclear Material handling and
storage; National Criticality Safety Program’s Critical Experiments Facility; large scale
underground sub-critical plutonium experiments; LEP research, development and design; high
hazard, scientific experiments with special nuclear materials (e.g. dynamic plutonium
experiments); large high explosive charge experiments and testing; Nuclear Counter Terrorism
research, experimentation, and emergency support; DOE’s Nuclear Criticality Safety Program;
and legacy environmental cleanup commitments.
In FY 2012, funding provides for the operation of the Device Assembly Facility (DAF)
(including Critical Experiment Facility (CEF) enduring operations) and ensures that the U1a
complex, the Joint Actinide Shock Physics Experimental Research (JASPER) Facility, the Big
Explosives Experimental Facility (BEEF) and Baker site achieve minimum-operations capability
to support Stockpile Stewardship missions. The requested funding operates and maintains the
remainder of NNSS in a minimum-operations capability condition while maintaining safe,
secure transportation and handling, and providing for experimenters and diagnosticians at the
NNSS.
• Pantex Plant 131,227 121,254 164,848
The RTBF Operations of Facilities at Pantex provides the following capabilities for the nuclear
security enterprise: weapon assembly, disassembly, and surveillance in support of the LEPs;
high explosives synthesis, formulation, and machining in support of production; and Special
Nuclear Material non-destructive evaluation and requalification. The request allows the Pantex
Plant to support the increased workloads associated with weapon program activity, including
increases in LEPs, surveillance and dismantlement activities; and allows the site to function at
the minimum-operable state of readiness by providing for facility management and staff support
to perform plant and maintenance engineering, facility utilization analysis, modification and
upgrade, and facilities planning. In addition to the general requirements noted above, these
funds are crucial to maintaining critical safety systems in support of Nuclear Weapons activities
such as linear accelerator maintenance, Radiation Alarm Systems, Fire Suppression Systems,
and high explosive (HE) machining capabilities. To support the site’s weapon capabilities,
RTBF funds Pantex in the performance of the following activities: the collection and treatment
of wastewater; steam distribution and condensate return; electrical distribution; natural gas
distribution; compressed air; and water production, treatment, distribution to support domestic,
industrial, and fire protection needs; and safety and health assurance including Radiation Safety,
Nuclear Explosive Safety, Occupational Medicine, Industrial Hygiene, and Industrial Safety.
The FY 2012 request funds risk reduction activities, continues recovery from the FY 2010 flood
event, and provides a minimum-operable state of readiness at the site. Improvements to facilities
Weapons Activities/
Readiness in Technical Base and Facilities Page 150
FY 2012 Congressional Budget