WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) today announced its plans to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) for the transformation and modernization of the Cold War-era nuclear weapons complex.

NNSA issued in the Federal Register a Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an EIS, which will be entitled the “Complex 2030 Supplement to the Stockpile Stewardship and Management Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement.” The NOI outlines the alternatives that the NNSA will consider in transforming the nuclear weapons complex to better meet future national security requirements.

Earlier in the year, NNSA outlined its comprehensive plan, called Complex 2030, for a smaller, more efficient nuclear weapons complex that is better able and more suited to respond to future national security challenges. Complex 2030’s goal is to achieve President Bush’s vision of the smallest stockpile consistent with our national security needs.

By 2012, the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile will be reduced by nearly 50 percent making it the smallest stockpile since the Eisenhower administration.

Complex 2030 refers to the configuration of the nuclear weapons complex that NNSA envisions by the year 2030. It includes significant dismantling of retired warheads, consolidating special nuclear materials, eliminating duplicative capabilities, establishing a consolidated plutonium center, and implementing more efficient and uniform business practices throughout the complex.

In order to further define the EIS and identify key issues, NNSA is requesting comments from the public. The public comment period begins today and will continue through January 18, 2007. Public comments will be accepted in writing or at one of the 17 meetings that NNSA will be hosting in the local communities surrounding each site in the nuclear weapons complex and in Washington, D.C. The NOI includes additional public comment information and a complete list of the meetings including dates, times and locations.

After the comment period and public meetings, NNSA will prepare a draft of the EIS. This draft will be made public in the summer of 2007 and NNSA will hold hearings to solicit the public’s comments. In the spring of 2008, NNSA will publish the final EIS and a record of decision will be reached in the fall of 2008.

The nuclear weapons complex consists of the eight major facilities across the country that work together to keep the nation’s nuclear stockpile safe and reliable without underground nuclear testing. The facilities include: Los Alamos National Laboratory (NM), Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (CA), Sandia National Laboratories (NM and CA), Pantex Plant (TX), Y-12 National Security Complex (TN), Kansas City Plant (MO), Savannah River Site (SC) and Nevada Test Site (NV).

Established by Congress in 2000, NNSA is a semi-autonomous agency within the U.S. Department of Energy responsible for enhancing national security through the military application of nuclear science. NNSA maintains and enhances the safety, security, reliability and performance of the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile without nuclear testing; works to reduce global danger from weapons of mass destruction; provides the U.S. Navy with safe and effective nuclear propulsion; and responds to nuclear and radiological emergencies in the U.S. and abroad.

View the full text of the NOI:  Notice of Intent To Prepare a Supplement to the Stockpile Stewardship and Management Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement-Complex 2030.

Media contact(s):
NNSA Public Affairs (202) 586-7371