Open AccessInventory extension at the Nuclear Materials Storage Facility
Author(s) -
W.D. Stanbro,
V. L. Longmire,
C. T. Olinger,
P.E. Argo
Publication year - 1996
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Reports
DOI - 10.2172/392774
Subject(s) - nuclear material , plutonium , nuclear weapon , national laboratory , nuclear engineering , computer science , environmental science , engineering , nuclear physics , physics , engineering physics
The planned renovation of the Nuclear Material Storage Facility (NMSF) at Los Alamos National Laboratory will be a significant addition to the plutonium storage capacity of the nuclear weapons complex. However, the utility of the facility may be impaired by an overly conservative approach to performing inventories of material in storage. This report examines options for taking advantage of provisions in Department of Energy orders to extend the time between inventories. These extensions are based on a combination of modern surveillance technology, facility design features, and revised operational procedures. The report also addresses the possibility that NMSF could be the site of some form of international inspection as part of the US arms control and nonproliferation policy