Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation Programs
The Office of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation (DNN) is an organization within the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) National Nuclear Security Administration, responsible for detecting, preventing and reversing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, while mitigating the risks from nuclear operations. The unique and invaluable expertise of the U.S. national laboratories, such as PNNL, supports DNN mission activities.
More countries are pursuing nuclear power to ensure the security of their energy needs. This global expansion of nuclear energy, however, comes with increased risk of nuclear proliferation and terrorism as more materials become available. PNNL is providing support to DOE NNSA's Office of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation (DNN) with science technologies, policy and economic analyses to address these emerging risks.
PNNL's supports the following NNSA DNN Programs:
- Global Threat Reduction
- Nonproliferation Verification Research and Development
- Nonproliferation and International Security
- International Material Protection and Cooperation
- Fissile Materials Disposition.
For more information:
Gordon Dudder, Director
(509) 372-6577
Global Threat Reduction
PNNL supports the DNN's Office of Global Threat Reduction to identify, secure, remove and/or facilitate the disposition of vulnerable, high-risk nuclear and other radiological materials around the world—as quickly and expeditiously as possible—that pose a threat to the United States and the international community. The office is divided into two divisions: Global Nuclear Materials Threat Reduction and Global Radiological Threat Reduction.
We contribute staff expertise in
- assessment and protection of radioactive materials
- program management and integration
- national and international standards development.
Major ongoing programs include the repatriation of Highly Enriched Uranium (HEU) research reactor fuels to the United States and Russia, the global conversion of research reactors to Low-Enriched Uranium (LEU) fuels, securing radioactive sources around the world and developing an authoritative and comprehensive database of all facilities that have nuclear or radiological materials that could be of terrorist concern and thereby identify additional materials that are not covered by existing programs—"gap" materials which will be addressed.
For more information, contact Keith Freier, Global Threat Reduction, at (509) 375-6744 or Keith.Freier@pnnl.gov
Nonproliferation Verification Research and Development
Each year, PNNL offers innovative technologies and concepts to support U.S. government agencies involved with controlling proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. These technologies are selected for the benefits they offer to DNN Office of Nonproliferation Research and Development's long-standing missions in nuclear proliferation, monitoring and detection, as well as their applications to emerging needs in areas such as law enforcement. The technologies are relevant and significant for the complex issues and technical challenges associated with threats to national security.
Development and application of these concepts promise practical solutions for critical problems and technical support for meeting strategic objectives in
- radiation detection
- counter nuclear smuggling
- nuclear materials analysis
- law enforcement
- cooperative monitoring
- remote chemical detection
- detection enabling technologies
- remote physical detection.
For more information, contact Steve Sharpe at (509) 372-4740 or sw.sharpe@pnl.gov
Nonproliferation and International Security
DNN's Office of Nonproliferation and International Security is an integral part of the nation's response to the threats posed by today's proliferation dangers. The office deploys a unique combination of policy and technical expertise to address a wide range of national security problems and manages an extensive portfolio of nonproliferation programs. The key program objectives are to
- help with dismantlement and transparency issues
- assist with U.S. participation in international regimes and agreements
- promote cooperative efforts to bolster global security through engagement and cooperation.
PNNL contributes the following staff expertise:
- nuclear materials production, handling, storage and disposition
- non-nuclear signatures, information barriers, tags and seals, emergency response and adaptation of nuclear detection systems to anti-terrorism applications
- economic diversification
- proliferation-resistant fuel cycles
- export control issues involving nuclear, chemical or biological proliferation
- commercial applications of science to agriculture and pharmaceutical projects.
For more information, contact Kevin Whattam, Manager, at (509) 375-3617 or whattam@pnnl.gov .
International Material Protection and Cooperation
Since its inception, the primary focus of DNN's International Material Protection and Cooperation (IMPC) program has been to implement and ensure the sustainability of nuclear material protection, control and accounting (MPC&A) systems and technologies at vulnerable sites located in Russia and other former Soviet states. These efforts seek to prevent the theft of Russian nuclear weapons and nuclear weapons-usable material by consolidating, securing and reducing the stocks of weapons-grade fissile material. By addressing vulnerabilities at their source, the MPC&A program provides the nation's first line of defense against nuclear theft and terrorism. In addition, the IMPC program is implementing a Second Line of Defense (SLD) program that focuses on eliminating the pathways for nuclear smuggling through high-risk border crossings, air and seaports worldwide. Through cooperative efforts with other countries, the SLD program is focused on detection and deterrence of illicit trafficking of nuclear material across international borders.
The national laboratories involved in the program, including PNNL, share technical information and experience with their counterparts in Russia to help implement and improve the security and accounting of nuclear mater ials through the MPC&A program. In addition, the SLD activities enhance the ability of foreign customs officials to improve the security of border crossings, airports and seaports.
PNNL's contributions are:
- physical security, systems and methodologies
- material control and accounting, systems and methodologies
- nuclear material processing and storage/facility operations
- assessment and surveillance technology
- tamper-indicating devices and barcode technology and application
- regulatory structure and development
- safeguards, security, protective force training and course and facility development
- international safeguards implementation
- computer network infrastructure/design and systems/software development
- nuclear material transportation
- protective forces, equipment and methodologies
- vulnerability analysis and cost/risk/benefit
- program/project management.
For more information, contact David Kostorowski, Manager, at 372-4345 or david.kostorowski@pnnl.gov
Fissile Materials Disposition
DNN's Office of Fissile Materials Disposition is responsible for disposing of inventories of surplus U.S. weapons-usable plutonium and highly enriched uranium as well as providing technical support for and implementation of efforts to obtain reciprocal disposition of surplus Russian plutonium. These disposition activities, along with other efforts to dismantle weapons delivery systems, secure nuclear materials and prevent the spread of nuclear weapons knowledge are part of the U.S. government's strategy to reduce the global danger from weapons of mass destruction.
PNNL is supporting this strategy through the following contributions:
- developing the regulatory infrastructure in Russia that would be needed to build and operate a MOX plutonium disposition system
- developing jointly with Russia the monitoring and inspection regimen that will be used to verify that disposition has occurred per the treaty
- supporting the design of the Pit Disassembly and Conversion Facility (PDCF) under the 1831 contract
- completing the design verification tests to support development of the PDCF.
For more information, contact Bill Richmond, Manager, at (509) 372-6315 or Bill.Richmond@pnnl.gov