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

Preparation (PuP) project into a single project to be located in K-Area Reactor Facility at the SRS and
managed by NNSA. Upon CD-1 approval of the combined project, the project will be renamed the “Pit
Disassembly and Conversion (PDC) Project.” FMD has identified approximately 10 MT of plutonium
feed material that can be used as feedstock for MOX in advance of PDC coming on line. In addition, the
program continues to evaluate other options to (1) supply plutonium oxide to MOX and (2) adjust fuel
supply commitments consistent with the output of the MFFF.
The goal of the Russian Plutonium Disposition program is to work with Russia to dispose of at least
34 MT of surplus Russian weapon-grade plutonium. In April 2010, the U.S. and Russian governments
signed a Protocol to amend the PMDA to reflect Russia’s revised program to dispose of its surplus
weapon-grade plutonium. The amended PMDA stipulates that Russia will rely on the use of fast
reactors for plutonium disposition, the existing BN-600 and the BN-800 currently under construction,
operating under certain nonproliferation restrictions. Simultaneously, the U.S. and Russia continue to
support, on a cost shared basis, research and development of the Gas Turbine-Modular Helium Reactor
(GT-MHR), which could also be used for disposition should that technology become operational during
the disposition period. According to the amended PMDA, disposition is agreed to begin in both
countries in 2018.
Uranium Disposition – The NNSA is also responsible for disposing of U.S. highly enriched uranium
(HEU) that has been declared surplus to defense needs by down-blending it into low enriched uranium
(LEU). Once down-blended, the material can no longer be used for nuclear weapons. To the extent
practical, the program seeks to recover the economic value of the material by using the resulting LEU as
commercial or research reactor fuel. Four separate projects are underway: Tennessee Valley Authority
(TVA) HEU Down-blending, MOX LEU Inventory, Reliable Fuel Supply, and Research Reactor Fuel
projects. Additional projects are being planned.
Annual Performance Results and Targets
The Department is in the process of updating its strategic plan, and has been actively engaging
stakeholders including Congress. The draft strategic plan is being released for public comment
concurrent with this budget submission, with the expectation of official publication this spring. The
draft plan and FY 2012 budget are consistent and aligned. Updated measures will be released at a later
date and available at the following link http://www.mbe.doe.gov/budget/12budget/index.htm.
FY 2010 Accomplishments
• Completed construction of 11 of the 16 auxiliary MOX buildings.
• Completed assembly of the first On-Site Process Unit demonstrating successful conversion from the
French reference plant process unit design into a U.S. design.
• Completed first in-advance test on a glovebox, demonstrating successful conversion and function
from the French reference plant technology and designs to the U.S. design.
• Completed MOX glovebox process design to meet U.S. codes, standards and regulatory
requirements.
• Installed over 76,000 cubic yards of reinforced concrete and more than 15,000 tons of rebar for the
MFFF, and installed all 23 “trapped tanks” on the first floor.
Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation/
Fissile Materials Disposition Page 378
FY 2012 Congressional Budget