Nuclear Weapons & Global Security Update - Winter 2009
Contents
- Summary
- Nuclear Weapons Complex Plans Seriously Curtailed
- Nuclear Reprocessing Scheme Limps Along
- Looking Ahead
Summary
Over the last three years, solid technical analysis combined with the persistent advocacy efforts of UCS activists like you have effectively derailed two massive government programs—Complex Transformation and the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership—which posed serious risks to our nation's security. Our success in stopping these programs gives us a fresh start with a new president and Congress on a range of critical security issues, including U.S. nuclear weapons policy, nuclear non-proliferation, missile defense, and the peaceful use of space..
Nuclear Weapons Complex Plans Seriously Curtailed
This past October, the National Nuclear Security Administration issued its final Supplemental Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (SPEIS) for Complex Transformation. This multi-billion dollar plan was first launched in April, 2006—as Complex 2030—and calls for the complete overhaul of the nation’s nuclear weapons complex in order to design and develop a new generation of nuclear weapons.
Your calls, letters, emails and attendance at hearings over the last three years helped achieve a major victory in the SPEIS. The document presents sharply scaled back plans, including the cancellation of major buildings and a recommendation to build only 20 so-called “plutonium pits” annually as opposed to the original plans calling for hundreds.
Our core message has been heard by policy makers—our first order of business must be a fundamentally new U.S. nuclear weapons policy that articulates a clear long-term plan and purpose for our nation’s nuclear arsenal.
Nuclear Reprocessing Scheme Limps Along
Late last year, after more than a year of delays, the U.S. Department of Energy finally released its required Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Assessment (PEIS) on its proposed Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP) program. This controversial program involves "reprocessing" the nuclear waste from commercial nuclear power reactors.
UCS has helped lead the opposition to GNEP, arguing that this costly program will not only fail to solve the issue of nuclear waste, but it would make it easier for terrorists to obtain nuclear weapons materials, encourage other countries to begin reprocessing programs, and seriously undermine U.S. efforts to stop the spread of nuclear weapons.
Thanks in part to the efforts of UCS supporters, many of GNEP’s most ambitious aspects, such as the construction of a number of new reprocessing facilities throughout the country, have been effectively cancelled. An official government “record of decision” to proceed has been put off for the incoming administration where there appears to be little support. Currently, the DOE is accepting public comments on the PEIS until March 16, 2009.
Looking Ahead
Nuclear weapons remain a grave and growing threat to human civilization and our planet. Current U.S. nuclear weapons policy is outdated and dangerous, and provides an incentive for other nations to acquire nuclear weapons. Throughout the presidential campaign, UCS played a major role in keeping the issue of nuclear weapons on the agenda. In the last month, more than 10,000 UCS activists have joined with us urging President-elect Barack Obama to address the serious and growing threat posed by nuclear weapons, which he promised to do during the campaign.
As the United States re-engages with the international community, we will focus on near-term priorities, including urging the United States and Russia to extend or renegotiate the critical Strategic Arms Reduction (START) Treaty which is set to expire in December, 2009; building bipartisan support in the Senate for ratification of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty; and promoting international engagement on nuclear proliferation, the future of space, and improved dialogue and exchange with China on security matters.
