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

INTRODUCTION:
Site Description
The Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) is located on a one-square-mile site in
Livermore, California, with a larger (10-square mile) remote explosives testing site (Site 300) situated
18 miles east of the main Livermore site.
The LLNL has a primary role in the Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration
(DOE/NNSA) mission special capabilities, required for stockpile stewardship and nonproliferation
activities as well as homeland security, to meet enduring national needs in conventional defense, energy,
environment, biosciences, and basic science, as well as enhancing the competencies needed for the
national security mission. The site is aligned with the nuclear security enterprise modernization
activities, which includes eliminating quantities of special nuclear materials from the Laboratory, and
establishing shared user facilities to more efficiently maintain experimental capabilities such as the
National Ignition Facility (NIF).
ACTIVITIES:
Directed Stockpile Work (DSW)
The LLNL is responsible for three enduring weapons systems: the W80, B83, and W87; and any future
Life Extension Programs (LEP), as well as weapon system assessments, certification, and stockpile
support. Work under the LEP and Stockpile Systems subprograms directly supports weapons systems,
while the work under Stockpile Services contains activities that support multiple weapons systems,
including, plutonium experiments, technical basis for stockpile transformation planning, high energy
density/above ground experiments (HED/AGEX), closure of high-priority Significant Finding
Investigations (SFIs), Nuclear Safety Research & Development (R&D), surveillance management and
subject matter experts, weapons program infrastructure, R&D studies, container design, assessment and
certification, and weapons response support to the plants.
The LLNL is tasked with supporting continuing efforts to examine how the B61 Phase 6.2/6.2A study
can address issues of safety, security and long-term reliability of the nation's nuclear deterrent. The
study will provide options to address aging, reliability, surety improvements, and the consolidation of
numerous modifications. In addition, LLNL will continue life extension studies for the W78, consistent
with the principles of the Stockpile Management Program.
Science Campaign
The Science Campaign develops the tools and methodology to assess and certify the safety, reliability,
and performance of the stockpile systems. These tools and methodology also support ongoing activities
in LEPs, Significant Finding Investigations, and Laboratory-to-Laboratory Peer Reviews. The Science
subprogram activities are:
• Advanced Certification: Advanced Certification will continue to review, and evaluate approaches
to establish an accredited warhead certification plan, without nuclear testing, in an era where
changes to nuclear components will occur due to aging or design concerns;
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Page 494
FY 2012 Congressional Budget