Aerial view of the Y-12 nuclear weapons plant in Oak Ridge. (NNSA photo)
A federal spokesman confirmed Thursday evening that the Y-12 nuclear weapons plant inadvertently sent a larger-than-intended quantity of “special nuclear material” to a commercial facility earlier this summer.
The mistake reportedly wasn’t discovered until the recipient notified Y-12 of the problem, spawning multiple investigations and raising questions about the adequacy of the government’s accounting of materials of potential use in weapons.
In response to questions, Steven Wyatt of the National Nuclear Security Administration confirmed that the nuclear material was sent to a commercial facility licensed by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
The July shipment “contained a larger quantity of the material than should have been shipped,” Wyatt said.
“When the facility receiving the material determined that they had received the larger amount, they notified officials at Y-12,” he said.
“All material shipped to the facility was recovered by a Y-12 team and returned to the Oak Ridge site,” he said in an email response. “Y-12 personnel ensured accountability of the material throughout its recovery.”
Wyatt said the National Nuclear Security Administration treated the “irregularity” very seriously.
Shipments of special nuclear materials around the United States and abroad are supposed to take place with rigorous controls and tight security.
Y-12 is the nation’s principal repository for highly enriched uranium. The Oak Ridge plant recycles uranium from dismantled bombs and warhead and recycles the nuclear material for use in refurbished weapons or other uses, such as fuel for the U.S. Navy’s fleet of nuclear-powered submarines and aircraft carriers.
“Nothing is more important to NNSA, as we carry out our vital national security mission, than the safety and security of our employees and the communities in which they operate. This work includes transporting nuclear material,” the government spokesman said.
He said the federal agency worked with the Y-12 contractor, Consolidated Nuclear Security, to investigate how and why the event occurred.
Unofficial reports of a significant Y-12 screw-up have circulated in recent weeks.
Asked earlier this week about reports of a Y-12 nuclear shipment that exceeded its limits, NRC spokesman Scott Burnell responded, “At this point I don’t have anything to offer.” On Thursday, he reiterated that comment.
The NNSA did not respond to questions regarding the amount of material involved; the commercial facility that received the excess load of nuclear material; the time gap between the initial shipment and discovery of the overload; what regulations were violated; personnel actions taken as a result of the shipping mistake; and results of the preliminary investigations.
A feature on Atomic City Underground allows readers to sign up for email updates and receive a notice each time new information is posted on the news blog. Just put your email address in the box on the lower right of the blog’s front page and follow instructions. Thanks to all loyal readers.
