Nuclear Lab Wants More Plutonium, Promises to Study Environmental Impacts
Published Date: 1/13/2025
Notice
Summary
The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) is planning to study how increasing plutonium work at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California might affect the environment. They want to hear from local communities, tribes, and others about any concerns or ideas before making decisions. Public comments are open until February 12, 2025, and a virtual meeting will be held soon to share more info and gather feedback.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 4 costs, 0 mixed.
Worker and Public Exposure Risks
The SEIS will analyze potential effects on the public and workers from exposures to radiological and hazardous materials during normal operations, construction, accidents, and intentional destructive acts. NNSA explicitly lists worker and public exposures as a preliminary issue for analysis.
Upgrade to Security CAT II Operations
NNSA proposes to increase plutonium research by upgrading the LLNL Plutonium Facility from Security Category (CAT) III to Security CAT II and increasing the amount of fissile materials for R&D. NNSA says re-establishing Security CAT II operations at the LLNL facility may take about five years while construction of a new Security CAT I/II facility could take decades.
More Shipments and Waste Activity
Under the proposed action, NNSA would increase materials shipments and waste generation and shipments to and from the LLNL Superblock. The SEIS will analyze impacts from traffic and transportation of radiological and hazardous materials and waste to and from the LLNL Site.
Community Services and Environmental Justice
NNSA will analyze socioeconomic impacts to affected communities, including effects on fire protection, police protection, schools, and landfill solid waste disposal, and will assess environmental justice impacts to minority and low-income populations. The SEIS scoping asks for public input on these issues.
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