Secret nuclear weapons report released amid SC, NM factory fight. Here’s what to know

A newly unredacted federal report on plutonium pit aging has been released to environmental groups opposing multibillion-dollar atomic weapons factories planned for South Carolina and New Mexico. Watchdogs say the findings undercut the case for the plants, but federal officials disagree.

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FULL STORY: Once secret report on atomic weapons production released as greens fight plans in SC, NM

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Here are key takeaways:

• The JASON study, obtained through an open records request, found that plutonium pits are beginning to age but remain adequate for use in nuclear weapons. Despite that finding, the report recommends continuing plans to produce new pits.
• Jay Coghlan, who heads Nuclear Watch New Mexico, said the report undermines the government’s rationale for the factories, arguing “this plutonium aging excuse doesn’t really hold water.” He also warned of environmental risks and proliferation concerns tied to expanded production.
• The National Nuclear Security Administration interprets the report differently, saying it “confirms NNSA’s longstanding position that continued scientific research is needed to further understand plutonium aging” and supports moving ahead with its two-site production strategy.
• The federal government has pushed for more than 20 years to produce 80 plutonium pits annually, with recent efforts targeting up to 200 per year. Most would be made at the Savannah River Site, a 310-square-mile complex in western South Carolina.
• The SRS pit factory is being built at the site of a failed mixed oxide fuel plant and is projected to cost more than $30 billion. Supporters say it could bring thousands of jobs to South Carolina.

The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The full story in the link at top was reported, written and edited entirely by journalists.

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