| November 19, 2009 |  |
No Need for U.S. to Build New Nuclear Warheads, Independent Scientific Panel Concludes
WASHINGTON (November 19, 2009) — The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) today released the executive summary of a new report that should put an end to claims that new nuclear weapons are required to maintain a safe, secure and reliable nuclear arsenal, according to experts at the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS).
"This new scientific report should be the final nail in the coffin for proposals to build new nuclear weapons," said Stephen Young, senior analyst in the Global Security Program at UCS. "The report finds that we can maintain our nuclear weapons indefinitely by simply continuing to do what we are already doing."
The report, by a prominent, independent scientific panel called the JASON group, concluded that the United States can maintain current high levels of safety, security and reliability indefinitely without designing a new generation of warheads or testing current warheads. The panel found that the arsenal can be maintained by two existing programs: the Stockpile Stewardship Program, which monitors the arsenal for signs of aging, and the Life-Extension Program, which refurbishes existing warheads with new components.
The House Armed Services Strategic Forces Subcommittee requested the report in February 2008. The complete report is classified, but the executive summary (pdf) is a public document.
NNSA, the semiautonomous agency in the Department of Energy that oversees the nuclear weapons program, is considering increasing stockpile safety and security requirements. The JASON report concluded that doing so would in some cases require new warhead designs and further scientific research.
"There is no sensible rationale for increasing safety requirements, which are already very stringent," said Young.
The JASON report also identified problems in the Stockpile Stewardship Program resulting from a lack of program stability and an inadequate stockpile surveillance program.
"NNSA and top officials at the U.S. weapons labs must fully support and adequately fund essential elements of the Stockpile Stewardship Program," he said. "It's vital to the continued safety, security and reliability of our nuclear arsenal."
The Union of Concerned Scientists puts rigorous, independent science to work to solve our planet's most pressing problems. Joining with citizens across the country, we combine technical analysis and effective advocacy to create innovative, practical solutions for a healthy, safe, and sustainable future.
