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1. Introduction
Pages 8-13

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From page 8...
... Plutonium and elitism do not exist in nature in significant quantities, so they are "created" in production nuclear reactors. The Department creates, maintains, and modernizes the national stockpile of nuclear weapons at govemment~wned, contractoroperated facilities that, taken together, make up the U.S.
From page 9...
... The weapons complex faces two types of hazards: those confronted by any large industrial complex, and the special hazards Eat arise from the unique TABLE 1.1 Nonreactor Facilities in the Weapons Complex, Other Than Test Sites and Waste Repositones Weapons Laboratories Materials Production Facilities Facilities Weapons Production Los Alamos National Ashtabula Plant Kansas City Plant Laboratory Feed Materials Production Mound Facility Lawrence Livermore Center Pantex Plant National Laboratory Hanford Nuclear Reservation Pinellas Plant Sandia National Idaho Chemical Processing Plant Rocky Flats Plant Laboratory Oak Ridge Gaseous Diffusion Y-12 Plant Plant Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant Savannah River Site
From page 10...
... Of course, there is also the need to control and monitor effluents Dom the plants and to assure that the disposal or storage of wastes does not have detrimental effects on people or the environment. The assurance of satisfactory operations depends on many factors: proper design and choice of materials for construction and equipment careful attention to proper procedures; awareness of hazards and how to avoid them; careful maintenance and the ability to upgrade aspects of a facility when the need anses; use of design, procedures, and training to avoid and mitigate accidents; and a thorough dedication to health, safety, and environmental compliance at all levels.
From page 11...
... Fifth, although nuclear weapons are expected to play a continuing role in deterring war, continued nuclear weapons production is perceived to have decreasing significance in the overall national security of the United States. Significant reductions in nuclear weapons are desired by many, and uncertainties exist about the status of the weapons complex as an element essential to U.S.
From page 12...
... Obviously, the demand for weapons provides the fundamental underpinning for He activities of the weapons complex. But, although DOD plays a dominant role in defining the requirements for nuclear weapons, it is DOE that is obligated to meet the demand and to bear the budgetary costs.
From page 13...
... Indeed, as in every human endeavor, the likelihood that DOE will adequately accomplish its mission ultimately depends on the technical quality of its staff and of contractor employees. Changing the DOE Culture The Secretary of Energy has observed that, in the past, the predominant focus of activities in the weapons complex has been on production.


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