PLUTONIUM DISPOSITION EIS PUSHED OUT INDEFINITELY

While continuing an assessment of alternatives for plutonium disposition, the National Nuclear Security Administration has indefinitely pushed out release of its final Surplus Plutonium Disposition Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement. While the report had been scheduled to be released early this year, that was later delayed to a target date this summer. In a schedule posted by the Department of Energy late last week, the date for completion of the final EIS now only states “under Departmental review.” DOE did not respond to a request for comment. The NNSA released its draft EIS in July 2012, which pointed to disposal of 34 metric tons of surplus plutonium under an agreement with Russia by converting the majority of the material to mixed oxide fuel to be used in commercial reactors. However, since then the NNSA has launched a study to look at alternatives for disposition of the material, citing significant cost increases in construction costs at the Mixed Oxide Fuel Fabrication Facility.