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AIKEN, S.C. - Jun 20
The head of the federal nuclear weapons program hopes a plan to convert weapons-grade plutonium into fuel for commercial reactors will make significant strides this fall. "The U.S. program is ready and we need to get along with the job," Brooks said. Construction of a mixed-oxide plant at the Savannah River Site near Aiken has been held up because of complications that have delayed construction of a Russian facility. Those issues have apparently been solved in a recent agreement. Groundbreaking ceremonies on the facility were held last fall. About 73 acres has been cleared at the site and 80 percent has been excavated to make way for construction, Brooks said. In addition, 85 percent of the facility's design work is complete. "We need to move forward because the United States has a commitment," Brooks said. "The United States lives up to its commitments." Six years ago, the United States and Russia each agreed to dispose of 34 metric tons of weapons-grade plutonium by converting it to fuel for use in commercial nuclear reactors. North Carolina-based Duke Power wants to use the fuel in four of its reactors. South Carolina agreed in 2002 to accept the weapons-grade plutonium at SRS if the U.S. Energy Department built a facility to convert the plutonium into fuel. At the same time, the U.S. agreed to help fund the construction of a similar MOX plant in Russia, meant to operate on a parallel track with the SRS plant. Brooks also told members of the Citizens for Nuclear Technology Awareness that he hopes uncertain funding issues will be worked out by both chambers in Congress. "I am confident that we will see the necessary funds so construction is not interrupted," Brooks said. Earlier this month, U.S. Rep. John Spratt, D-S.C., called for an investigation of the future of the MOX programs. ___ Information from: Aiken Standard, http://www.aikenstandard.com |
Top nuke official hopes MOX program will make strides this fall