Official: US must move ahead with nuclear weapons work

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A top nuclear security official says U.S. must move ahe with plans to ramp up production of key components for nation’s nuclear arsenal despite challenges presented by coronavirus.

Federal officials have set a deline of 2030 for increased production of plutonium cores used in nuclear weapons. work will be split between Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico and Savannah River Site in South Carolina. At stake are jobs and billions of federal dollars to upgre buildings or construct new factories.

National Nuclear Security ministrator Lisa Gordon-Hrty said in recent letter to U.S. Sen. Tom Udall, a New Mexico Democrat, that her ncy has worked with contractor that mans Los Alamos on precautions to protect employees from virus while moving ahe with defense work.

“ plutonium pit production mission is one of our highest national security priorities and is being done in accordance with congressional direction,” she wrote. “We must press forward with this project in order to meet Department of Defense deliverables.”

Gordon-Hrty didn’t specify what steps were taken to safeguard workers. Los Alamos director Thom Mason has said more than 85% of laboratory’s workforce is working from home and measures “following CDC guidelines” are in place for those doing national security work and protecting lab.

Watchdog groups have called for a more in-depth look at plutonium core project at Los Alamos, but National Nuclear Security ministration rejected those efforts earlier this year. ncy opted to prepare a supplemental analysis of an environmental review done for Los Alamos more than a dece ago. Critics argue that ramping up production at lab goes beyond those initial plans and should be reexamined.

ncy is doing a separate review for Savannah River. A virtual public meeting on that part of project was held last week and people can give input on it until May 18.

Gordon-Hrty denied a request by New Mexico’s congressional delegation to give public more time to weigh in on Los Alamos project. People can comment until Saturday. Lawmakers h asked on behalf of dozens of groups for an extension until at least June 19.

“ NNSA is essentially telling public to get lost during this epidemic,” said Jay Coghlan, director of Nuclear Watch New Mexico, a watchdog group.

He said people should use public comment opportunities to demand government spend money on masks, ventilators and or needs related to pandemic rar than on nuclear weapons.

Officials for years have pushed for plutonium core production to resume, saying U.S. needs to ensure stability and reliance of its nuclear arsenal.

National Nuclear Security ministration has said most of cores in stockpile were produced in 1970s and 1980s.