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

Detailed Justification
FY 2010
Actual
Approp
(dollars in thousands)
FY 2011
Request
FY 2012
Request
HEU Reactor Conversion 102,772 119,000 148,269
GTRI's Convert subprogram supports the conversion of domestic and international civilian research
reactors and isotope production facilities from HEU to LEU. These efforts result in permanent threat
reduction by minimizing and, to the extent possible, eliminating use of HEU in civilian applications.
This includes working with Mo-99 producers to convert their existing operations to use LEU targets
and developing new non-HEU-based Mo-99 production capabilities in the United States. The Convert
subprogram meets the GTRI mission by removing the need for HEU at civilian sites globally. Once
the need is eliminated, any remaining fresh and spent HEU fuel can be permanently disposed of by
GTRI's Remove subprogram.
In FY 2012, GTRI will convert, or verify as shutdown, an additional 5 HEU research reactors, bringing
the cumulative total to 83. This includes for example the conversion of HEU research reactors in
Russia. In addition, GTRI will continue efforts required to fabricate the new high-density LEU fuel
needed to convert the 27 HEU research reactors around the world that cannot convert with existing
LEU fuel. The conversion of these 27 high performance reactors will result in HEU avoidance of an
additional 520 kilograms per year. GTRI will also provide technical and financial support to the U.S.
private sector to accelerate the establishment of a reliable domestic production capability for the
critical medical isotope Mo-99 without the use of HEU. These activities support the goals contained in
the Administration’s nonproliferation initiative announced in Prague on April 5, 2009 to secure all
vulnerable nuclear material around the world within four years, and further strengthened in the July
2009 Joint Statement resulting from the Moscow Summit, the September 2009 UNSC Resolution 1887
and the April 2010 Nuclear Security Summit.
Nuclear and Radiological Material Removal 144,834 355,691 257,000
GTRI's Remove subprogram supports the removal and disposal of excess nuclear and radiological
material from civilian sites worldwide. The Remove subprogram meets the GTRI mission because
each kilogram or curie of this dangerous material that is removed reduces the risk of a terrorist
acquiring the materials necessary for a bomb.
• Russian-Origin Nuclear Material Removal 94,167 145,191 147,000
This activity supports the removal and disposal of Russian-origin nuclear material from research
reactors worldwide. These activities collectively support the goals contained in the
Administration’s nonproliferation initiative announced in Prague on April 5, 2009 to secure all
vulnerable nuclear material around the world within four years, which was further strengthened in
the July 2009 Joint Statement resulting from the Moscow Summit, the September 2009 UNSC
Resolution 1887 and the April 2010 Nuclear Security Summit. In accordance with these goals,
GTRI is accelerating the return of Russian-origin HEU fuel.
Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation/
Global Threat Reduction Initiative (GTRI) Page 425
FY 2012 Congressional Budget