Our mission is to safeguard our country and the world. Y-12’s Nuclear Nonproliferation programs play a critical role in securing our nation and the globe and in combating the spread of weapons of mass destruction. Our contributions include the following:
- Removing sensitive materials and equipment from countries such as Libya
- Providing peaceful employment for scientists who formerly worked in Soviet weapons facilities
- Working to convert the world's research reactors from highly enriched uranium fuel to low-enriched uranium fuel
- Providing fuel to research reactors
- Downblending weapon-grade material
- Disposing of surplus highly enriched uranium in a safe, secure, and environmentally acceptable way
Global Threat Reduction — Y‑12 is uniquely qualified to assist in removing and securing special nuclear threats around the globe. These Y‑12 skills and assets can provide a comprehensive response to radiological and nuclear material vulnerabilities anywhere in the world on short notice. Y‑12 has supported activities in Kazakhstan, Republic of Georgia, Russia, Libya and other countries. For more information, email Morris Hassler or call 865-576-8136. PDF article; PDF article
Material for Peaceful Uses — Y‑12 creates innovative solutions that use weapons‑grade enriched uranium for peaceful uses (e.g., commercial nuclear power, material science, and medical applications). One converted nuclear warhead used in commercial nuclear power can produce enough electricity to power every American home for 2 hours. For more information, email Morris Hassler or call 865-576-8136. PDF article
Material Disposition — In 1994 the United States declared 174 metric tons of highly enriched uranium as surplus to national security needs. The HEU Disposition Program Office at Y‑12 provides technical support, program planning and implementation of the down blending of surplus HEU for the NNSA Office of Fissile Materials Disposition. For more information, email George Singleton or call 865-241-3854.
Highly Enriched Uranium Disposition Program Office — The end of the Cold War left a legacy of weapons‑capable fissile material. As a commitment to nonproliferation, the President of the United States announced on March 1, 1995, that approximately 200 metric tons of fissile material was excess to national security needs. In a subsequent announcement on February 6, 1996, the Secretary of Energy declared that approximately 174 metric tons of the excess fissile material was highly enriched uranium (HEU). This quantity of HEU could theoretically produce nearly 4,300 nuclear warheads. When converted to peaceful use, by down blending to low‑enriched uranium (LEU), this material could supply electricity to every household in the U.S. for a full year. The DOE Office of Fissile Materials Disposition (MD) was created by Congress to oversee the final disposition of surplus fissile material. Soon thereafter the HEU Disposition Program Office (HDPO), located at the Y‑12 National Security Complex, was named the "Lead Lab" supporting DOE in this program. The material disposition program is now part of the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA).
The purpose of the HEU disposition program is to make the surplus HEU unusable for weapons, and to dispose of it in a safe, secure, and environmentally acceptable manner. Because of the huge amount of recoverable energy stored in the HEU, and its great economic value, HDPO plans to convert approximately 85% (over 155 MTU) of the available HEU to commercial or research reactor fuel. The remaining 15% of the surplus HEU is not usable as fuel for commercial use and will be disposed of as waste.
HDPO is responsible for project management and technical integration of the HEU Disposition Program. Responsibilities include strategic and tactical planning, oversight, technical analyses, regulatory coordination, business development and marketing, and coordination of interfaces among key participants and stakeholders. HDPO provides primary support in assisting MD in planning and implementing the disposition program. Major projects are under way to transfer on‑spec HEU to the United States Enrichment Corporation (USEC), and to produce fuel made from off-spec HEU for the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). The Savannah River Site (SRS) provides field and logistical support, as needed, to facilitate the Off‑Specification Fuel Project with TVA. PDF article
International Nonproliferation Program — Y‑12 has made significant contributions to nonproliferation initiatives that are critical to international security. Over the last few years, Y‑12 has had business arrangements and supported nonproliferation missions in more than 25 countries. For more information, email Ken Williams or call 865-576-7850.
The INP includes the following organizations:
- Russian Transition Initiatives (RTI)
- Elimination of Weapons Grade Plutonium Production (EWGPP)
- International Safeguards (IS)
- International Materials Protection and Cooperation (IMP&C)
The RTI Program provides program management and technical assessment activities for the Initiatives for Proliferation Prevention Program and the Nuclear Cities Initiative Program. IPP engages former Soviet weapons of mass destruction (WMD) scientists, engineers and technicians to redirect their expertise to peaceful, civilian work through long-term business partnerships with U.S. companies. NCI reduces WMD complexes by downsizing facilities, creating sustainable civilian alternatives for the displaced workforce, and establishing nonproliferation partnerships with other U.S. and international programs. PDF article
The EWGPP Program provides technical assistance for replacing fossil‑fuel energy in Russia, which will allow the shut down of three weapons‑grade plutonium production reactors.
The IS Program includes activities relative to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), assisting countries in safeguarding nuclear materials and confirming adequate protection.
The IMP&C Program works with countries of concern to secure nuclear weapons and weapons‑usable nuclear materials by assisting the upgrade of security at their nuclear sites.
