Abstracts and Available Papers Presented at the
2004 International RERTR Meeting

The Renewed Spirit of Y-12

David Wall Sr.
Sr. Nuclear Engineer
Y-12 Site Office National Nuclear Security Administration
Oak Ridge, TN, 37830, U.S.A

Morris Hassler
Manager
Global Nuclear Security & Supply
National Security Programs, BWXT Y-12

Elaine Parker
Manager
International Programs
Global Nuclear Security & Supply, BWXT Y-12

ABSTRACT
 

The Y-12 National Security Complex began operations in 1943 as a part of the Manhattan Project, the secret U. S. program that developed the first atomic weapon. With the end of the Cold War, the advent of the War on Terror, and the changing security needs of the US, Y-12 has begun to modernize and make changes to better meet the requirements of a smaller stockpile while supporting uranium supply needs and nuclear nonproliferation missions. Although we are proud of our place in history, after 60 years, we have begun to write a new chapter that will enable us to meet the new challenges facing the world today by strengthening our security posture and utilizing existing Y-12 expertise in nuclear nonproliferation initiatives. The modernization of Y-12 will enable us to be agile enough to adapt and respond to a much wider range of U. S. national security needs.

As part of the National Nuclear Security Administration, nuclear nonproliferation has become one of the primary Y-12 missions. Some of the nuclear nonproliferation programs we support include the supply of low enriched uranium (LEU) to research and test reactors. The LEU provided to the research reactor community is derived from down blending highly enriched uranium (HEU) that is removed from dismantled nuclear weapons. Y-12 expertise has been used in numerous nonproliferation programs in Russia, the recent effort to remove material from Libya, and various activities supporting the new Global Threat Reduction Initiative (GTRI).

The Y-12 National Security Complex stores significant quantities of HEU and therefore, has a security posture that must adapt to these new threats of global terrorism. This year, Y-12 has made real progress in modernizing its site so that it is better able to meet these new world challenges. Our modernization efforts will increase security, improve productivity, minimize health and safety risks and enable the Y-12 Site to continue to operate far into the future. This paper will summarize how Y-12 modernization will provide a safer, more secure and stable supply of uranium to research and test reactors for many years into the future, and how Y-12 will continue to support nuclear nonproliferation initiatives.

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